#astarion x tali

[astarioffsimpmain]

A Darling Evening (Tali & Astarion)

[Screenshots by @snowfolly]

Astarion x Taliesin Straeth (Snowy's OC)

Warnings: None; fluff!

Synopsis: Astarion finds a way to turn a rainy evening into something romantic.

Author's Note: This is my gift to @snowfolly for the Astarion Brainrot Valentine's Day Gift Exchange! Their OC Tali was a lot of fun to write, and I'm happy to post this here for them! <3

She huffed, a frown creasing her features as the rain pattered against the windowpane. "I was going to test our new find today. But no birds are going to be out in this weather." 

"And what exactly is that little trinket supposed to do again, Tali darling?" Astarion asked, deep in concentration as he stitched a design into one of her hats. 

"This little trinket," she produced a whistle the size of a pen from her pocket and slipped it through several of her fingers, admiring it. "Is supposed to make birds fly backwards for as long as they hear the song." 

"And when the little feathered twits end up crashing against a tree-?"

"They don't! That's the beauty of it. It's as though they don't even know they're flying backwards. They can see just as well as if they're flying forwards. The birds will never know the difference. But we will. We get a free show." She chuckled, tooting a note from the flute with a wiggle of her head before letting her hand fall back to her side as she sent a sidelong glance at the rain outside; staring deprecatingly at it as though it would cease just to lift her mood. 

"Well, my love, I am afraid the birds must wait." Astarion replied absent-mindedly, his brow creasing as he doubled back on a stitch that was not cooperating. 

"Well, what in the hells am I supposed to do now? And before you suggest it, I am not reading another one of the books Gale sent over right now. I'm not sure I can stomach more jargon on dissecting the magical properties of the Orevine plant." You rolled your eyes and your lover chuckled from where he sat. She leaned against the windowsill and stared at him, softening as she observed the wrinkles on his forehead and the laugh lines on the outsides of his eyes - things he would perpetually deny having as an eternally young creature of the night, but things she loved nonetheless. His eyes scanned his work tirelessly, obsessed with getting everything just right. He was a perfectionist through and through with his creations, which was surprising, considering the amount of chaos he wrought in most other areas of his undead life. But he plopped his work down suddenly and met her fuschia gaze with his discerning crimson one. 

"Well, darling, if all you plan to do for the rest of the afternoon is stare at me, then I suppose I must find something for us to do, hm? However much I enjoy seeing you observe my beauty." She scoffed and rolled her eyes at the tease, but a smile threatened to cross her lips nonetheless. She quirked a brow at him, curious to see what he had in mind. In the perfect image of beauty and grace, he rose from the chair he was perched in and swept through the small kitchen of the cabin the two of them had been staying in for around a week now and down the stairs of the adjacent door. The owners were… probably, on vacation somewhere, and had left a stocked-enough cellar for Tali to live on until she and Astarion decided to move on, or the owners decided to return. She padded down the steps after him and found him rummaging around a worn iron storage container before pulling out a bottle of mead, a block of cheese, and a small box of strawberries. “It isn’t a strawberry tart, darling, but it’ll have to do.” he mused, turning the box this way and that to see how the fruit was faring. 

He seemed to decide it was worthy of his lover after several seconds of looking it over and nodded curtly to himself, turning around and traipsing back up the steps with Tali on his heels. “Take these out in the rain and wash them off, won’t you, love?” Astarion smiled sweetly, a hint of flattery glimmering in his red-wine eyes. 

Tali merely laughed, taking the box of strawberries from him and stepping out onto the porch. There was a generous overhang, so she remained mostly dry as she held each strawberry out into the pouring rain and brushed off any possible dust or other unseen remnants with the pads of her fingers before gathering them back into the box and bringing it back in to where her lover was waiting, an apron acquired from gods know where, fastened around his slim waist and a knife in hand. “Oh, is my darling lover going to bake something for me?” Tali nudged playfully and Astarion scoffed. 

“Don’t get carried away, love.” he prodded her with his elbow as she came up beside him. “You know my specialty is to cut up, not put together.” he grinned over his shoulder at her, showing his fangs, before beginning the process of slicing their snacks. Tali chuckled and sidled up behind him, slipping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his back, humming as his laughter rumbled through her. She melted into him, allowing her eyes to fall closed as she recognized yet again how lucky they were to have found each other, especially after all they had suffered. Love was never supposed to be in the cards for her again, not after Margot. A small pang clenched her chest at the memory of her first love, but it was different now than it had been in the past. While she still held regrets, and knew she always would, there was a new sense of peace that had found her, and she knew her vampire was to thank for it. 

“If I am to make a new life after all of the pain I caused,” he would often say to her, “then you can as well.” He loved to use her words against her, but to bring her peace instead of suffering, and while it was all the more irritating that the advice was her own, she was thankful for the reminders. She smiled and nuzzled her nose in between his shoulder blades, taking in a slow breath of his bergamot, rosemary and brandy scent. There was an edge to the scent, one she knew to be his natural decayed skin, and she smiled. One of the first comments she had made once they made their relationship official was how much she liked that extra tang of his natural scent mixed with his cologne. She had nearly laughed her head off when he had looked at her with so much shock and affront that he resembled a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “You’re mad.” he had settled on as a response, grinning and shaking his head in disbelief. 

Tali giggled softly against Astarion’s back at the memory and he offered her a glance over his shoulder. “What are you giggling about like a madwoman back there, my darling? It is quite distracting.” His tone was chiding, but she knew there was a smile on his face and wriggled against him. 

“Just remembering when I told you I liked your natural scent.” 

“Oh gods, yes. I knew you were just mad enough for me when you proudly proclaimed being aroused by the scent of rot. It was all over for me at that very moment, pup.”

A cackle burst forth from her lips then and she let go of her lover to clutch her stomach. “I- hahaha! I think the f-fact that… ahahahah! That I liked you covered in gore hahaha! Would have been a sign! Ah hahaha!”

Astarion smiled down at the strawberries he resumed cutting in triumph, pleased with himself for lightening his dear Tali’s previously soured mood. He would never say the words out loud, but he couldn’t bear it when she was upset. She was his light, his sunbeam in his world otherwise plunged in darkness, and when she was down, a painfully tight coil squeezed around his undead heart. 

They chatted for awhile longer while Astarion finished with the snacks and uncorked the mead. "Well, my love, it seems as though they don't have very fine glasses for their liquor, which is a true shame, but I've found something that will do for now." He tutted as he pulled several well-worn glasses from the cupboard and wiped them out with a cloth. He had placed the cubes of cheese and slices of strawberry onto a plate and gestured for Tali to grab it and the glasses. Once her hands were full, he took the bottle of mead in hand and made for the front door. Dusk was fast approaching, but where a sunny day would have made it impossible for the vampire to be out at this hour, the rain had provided enough cloud cover that he was able to step out with ease. 

"Alright, those go here." He pointed to the short table that sat a few feet from the door and Tali relieved her hands of her haul. Astarion set the mead down between the two glasses, then turned to look at her expectantly. 

"Okay… what now?" Tali crossed her arms and chuckled at her lover's antics. 

"What do you mean, "what now?" Come now, love, you do remember how camping works, don't you? Pillows, blankets, anything to keep the ground from feeling like what it is. Off with you!" He shooed her towards the door with wild gesticulations and a laugh burst from her mouth. 

"Well why can't you get them, my big strong vampire?" She teased, referring to his boost in strength post-tadpole. 

"I had the idea, and I handled the food, darling, now it's your turn. You knew you were the manual labor in this relationship the moment you agreed to it, don't deny it." He tsked, folding his arms across his chest. 

"Alright, alright." Tali chuckled, getting to work. 

Soon, all the pillows and blankets in the house had been pooled onto the front porch where Tali and Astarion were now curled up. "The candles were a nice touch, my love." Tali murmured, glancing over to the single candelabras that held the family's bedside table candles, each one lit and waving gently in the cool night breeze. 

"Mmm I am known to be quite the connoisseur of romance, you know." He crooned from where his head lay in her lap. 

"Oh yeah?" Tali giggled, her fingers continuing a tender path through his soft curls. 

"Mhmm" Astarion hummed, his eyes closing as he pressed into his lover's gentle touch. 

"Well, I must say I agree, Mr. Ancunin. You have won me over, although at times quite begrudgingly." A smile quirked his lips, his only response to her ribbing. It wasn’t satisfactory enough for Tali though, who leaned down to press a long, amorous kiss to his beautiful plump lips; one he responded to immediately, threading his long fingers through her hair to cup the back of her head and neck. 

"I love you, Astarion." She muttered against his mouth and he chuckled softly, his breath hitting her lips. 

"I know, my darling… and you've won me over as well." He replied, pulling her lips to his once more. 

fin

[vixstarria]

God-Taliesin my beloved. 🥰

A Silver Tapestry

Chapter 2: Bound

(Astarion x Male OC — Gods and Devils AU where Astarion is an ice demon that falls in love with the god he fails to assassinate)

Read on ao3 here

Snippet:

‘Astarion swallowed, entranced as Taliesin began to sing softly in a language that he did not know, and the blizzard, which had seemed to almost dance with the pace of the harp song turned into a languid flurry of large, dazzling snowflakes. Astarion could clearly see the intricate patterns on the glittering faces of the flakes as they swayed and twisted with each pretty word that came from the harpist’s mouth. Gods, his voice as clear as a bell and as lovely as anything Astarion had ever heard… It was all so irritatingly whimsical.

Irritating whimsy aside, though — that beautiful voice commanded authority — power that controlled the snowfall over the entire palace, perhaps even the entire Godsland. The realization made him stall, unable to tear his eyes away from the divine resplendence as his heart skipped a beat… or several.

Fear flooded his veins as Astarion grabbed the hilts of his sheathed daggers — he was, as always, a puppet being commanded by some outside force. He simply could not deny his master, but how, in the name of all the gods, was he supposed to kill one?’

(The drawing of Tali at his desk was reffed from ‘man writing a letter’ by 1600s artist Gabriël Metsu)

[evilandfilthyginger]

that feeling when your boyfriend almost turns himself into a god 🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂

i miss my baldurs gate three phase OMG THIS EPISODE OF NEW GIRL IS A CROSSOVER WITH BROOKLYN 99 IM SO!!!! HAPPE!!!!!!!!!!

[nivasichakano]

Turns out you just gotta give me two guys resting their foreheads together and I'll write novels about them.

[lorithescrump]

Look I’m just sayin’ bro-

[vixstarria]

Peak gremlin Tali, meanwhile Astarion cannot get his hair wet. 😁

This wasn’t the autumn stroll Astarion expected, but there wasn’t a chance in the hells that Tali wasn’t going to make the most out of it. Even if it was at the expense of their new wardrobe.

A gift to the super talented and super sweet @snowfolly in part of an autumn exchange. It was an absolute (but also nerve wracking) delight to draw your absolute chaos gremlin bard, Tali. Go check out more of her amazing art and writing!

[typhoons-mess]

♡Character Masterlist♡

Welcome to my masterlist for all the characters I write for! My inbox is always open to requests but please do understand I work full time, and I do this for fun!

If you have any questions about what I will or will not write, please go check out my rules.

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•Navi Miles Quaritch •Human Miles Quaritch

Arcane

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Baldur’s Gate

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Divider by @/cafekitsune

[indigofoxed]

[talistableau]

i’ve gotten so into Baldurs Gate iii and into Astarion (his char development and plot as a whole is incredible)

But i’ve written an angsty x reader type thing and have like some kinda idea for plot that’s based on the cursed ending where you end up in a fight during the Ritual but Tav knocks him out instead of killing him

Tav’s a Seldarine Drow, Draconic Sorcerer and its most def gonna be heavily Folklore/Evermore/Lover/TTPD coded

i alr have song titles for chapters

would ppl be interested in that? 🤭 or have any suggestions/ideas?

[jb-nonsense]

A little Talilah x Astarion preview before I head to bed

               It had been a difficult fight for them. The fight for Astarion’s very being. Having him ripped away from her had caused Talilah’s heart to drop to her stomach but seeing him in the state he was in afterwards caused her stomach to knot. Everything had changed for him; it was all anew without having a shadow cast over him. And that caused numbness, nervousness. Yet she was proud of him, proud of how he had instructed his ‘siblings’ to lead the other spawn to the Underdark. He had been able to manage that much and with what he’d been through, it was a feat in it of itself, along with informing the Gur of the fate of their children.

               On the way back to the Elfsong Tavern, not a word passed in the group, but Talilah’s hand had brushed against his for permission and he had clung to it as if she were a lifeline. He did not release her hand, even when they entered the tavern. The look in his eyes as he saw one of his old hunting grounds was heavy and Talilah quickly lead him upstairs. He had said the dungeons reeked of death and he wanted to feel alive again. A step would be to get cleaned up; the both of them. She pulled him into one of the bathing rooms, leading him to sit on the bench. She lifted her hands, and he didn’t seem to want to let go of the hand he held in his grasp. She managed to free herself, though, and cupped his face.

               “I’m going to draw the bath, my love,” she said softly, switching to True Tongue. She brushed back a strand of bloodied silver hair, watching as he released a breath.

               “I’m a wreck,” he grumbled. His perfect act he put on was shattered and Talilah knew it. He leaned back, out of her touch as he radiated self-annoyance.

               “You’re also filthy,” Talilah said, trying to draw him out. “In more ways than one. But right now, we’ll take care of one way.”

               “Think you’re clever, don’t you?” Astarion threw back, raising a brow as he watched her stroll across the room.

               “Of course, I am,” Talilah said, not even looking at him as she started the bath. “I’ve outsmarted you plenty as it is. Not that that’s hard.” The chortle from him told her she was on the right path. He wanted to feel alive again, right? What better way than their typical back and forth? A sense of normalcy, for a little while.

[xx-reverie-xx]

Hello!

MDNI 🎠 Skye - 21 - POC -ENBY & AROACE SPEC - They/Them - Neurodivergent - Chronic Daydreamer - VERY multifandom - I love women 🎠 MDNI

REQUESTS: CLOSED

Taken Anon Emojis:

🎠🥀I am a lil’ bit of an amateur writer. I have been writing off and on for years, and now I’m confident about writing some fan fiction! I have not written fanfic in a hot minute, so I am a bit rusty. Just bear with me!

🎠🥀Most of my writings will be with a gender neutral reader and use they/them pronouns unless otherwise stated or requested :)! I will do my best to not include physical descriptions as well unless otherwise requested.

🎠🥀I will do my best to write all characters to the best of my ability. CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is welcome!

RULES AND FANDOMS BELOW THE CUT

I WILL NOT WRITE:

Fetish content (bathroom stuff, feet stuff, etc), some hard kinks, pedo shit, real people.

Porn without plot. Unpopular opinion, I know. #smutwithfeelingsftw

Character x Character

I WILL WRITE:

Fluff, angst, the basic stuff. Smut if the mood takes me

One shot/drabbles, headcanons, multi-character reactions.

Platonic relationships.

Song inspired requests.

Poly relationships (or I will do my best to).

I’m down for most stuff, so just shoot your shot!

FANDOMS & CHARACTERS I WILL WRITE FOR (more to come!)

Key:

NOT MENTIONED = I will NOT write for this character

PLAIN = I’m will write for this character.

ORANGE = Character I MIGHT write for if I get a request that sparks inspiration.

PINK = Would LOVE to write for this character.

AVATAR - James Cameron Movies

Jake Sully, Neytiri, Ronal, Tonowari, Tsu’tey, Quaritch, Grace Augustine

THE BOYS

Butcher, Hughie, Annie/Starlight, M.M., Kimiko, Frenchie, Maggie/Queen Maeve, Old and New Black Noir, Reggie/A-Train

ARCANE

Sevika, Vi, Jinx/Powder, Caitlyn Kiramman, Mel Medarda, Ekko , Jayce Talis, Viktor, Vander, Silco

MARVEL

Loki, Agatha Harkness, Steve Rogers, The Wolverine/Logan Howlett

CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE (remakes)

Ghost/Simon Riley, John Price, Soap/John Mactavish, Gaz/Kyle Garrick, Kate Laswell, Alejandro Vargas, Nikolai

BALDUR’S GATE III

Wyll Ravengard, Gale Dekarios, Shadowheart, Lae’zel, Karlach Cliffgate, Halsin, Isobel Thorm, Aylin (honestly, there are so many characters so just feel free to request any bg3 character! the only one i will not write for is astarion.)

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Moira O’Deorain, Sloan/Venture (the big two. i am down to write any overwatch character so feel free to request.)

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🎠have a lovely day🎠

[tragedybunny]

Fangs and Fairytales - Chapter 5

Summary༻

“As I was saying, you're right, things can't stay the same.” Beside her, she felt him tense. “Living at night is going to be an adjustment, I'm sure. It may take me a while. And we'll have to find ways to make sure you're always safe.”

“You don't-”

“I told you on the roof that day, I'm not going anywhere.”

Now. She reached out, and, careful to avoid his burns, pulled him into her arms. 

“It won't always be easy, I know that. But I'm not giving up.”

There was a time when he would have argued with her, told her she was wrong and this wouldn't work. Instead, he leaned his weight against her and drew a breath he didn't need. “Promise?”

Serafina, a warlock with a hidden past. Astarion, a freed vampire spawn. With the Netherbrain defeated, life and happiness are theirs for the taking. Together they’ll set out on a new adventure to find a way for Astarion to walk in the sun again. There’s no easy path to happily-ever-after though as they quickly find many obstacles blocking their way, including Sera’s own Patron, the Fey Queen Titania.  

Chapter 5: Serafina meets up with an old friend. Her and Astarion have one last night with their companions before heading out to adventure on their own.

༺Pairing༻ Astarion x Serafina (Female Tav/OC)

༺Rating༻ Mature

༺Warnings༻ A touch of angst

༺Word Count༻ 4593

༺A/N༻

Hello Lovelies!

Hello Lovelies - we're on to chapter 5, thank you for reading. Thank you to @icybluepenguin for betaing right after Thanksgiving lol. Your dinner almost had a side of Astarion. We've got guest stars! Tali is back, borrowed again from the lovely @snowfolly. And a mention of Asmodea - from the one and only @vixstarria.

So this story may take a pause. I've got a Big Bang fic to work on and another fic I'm looking to finish. I think this is a nice stopping point. If you could, leave me a comment and let me know what you think so far.

Read on AO3

All chapters here on Tumblr

Splash. A stone broke the water near a small fishing boat trying to tie off for the night and the sound of cursing followed in its wake. 

“Taliesin Straeth!” Sera playfully scolded and nudged the elf beside her with her elbow. 

“Oh he’ll live, it was just a little fright,” Tali shot back before unceremoniously stuffing a piece of fried fish in his mouth from the paper cone clutched in his hand. “Gods below, you can forget how good the food down here can be.” 

Down here. The lower city, a place that had been off-limits to her when she had first met Tali. Not that they didn’t sneak down on the occasion, and not that he was the only she’d come here with, but he was honestly the best of them - in his own strange way. 

Now they sat on a walkway above Grey Harbor, the boats coming in as the sun began its descent, sharing fried fish made fresh from the day’s catch and companionship that was rare for Sera; the companionship of one who knew of her before the Nautiloid and the tadpole. 

“Been too busy with the posh upper city life to visit lately?” she teased before taking a piece of her own generous pile. A silence fell between them that was not quite as comfortable as it once had been. 

Tali had been the most famous bard on the whole of the Sword Coast; doors opened for him everywhere and the Patriars of Baldur’s Gate embraced him where other bards may have been looked down on. It certainly didn’t hurt that his family name was known Elven nobility. So he was a welcome addition to her small circle in her mother’s eyes, with her ignorance that Tali despised most of her kind and would often escort Sera out on whatever bit of mischief he had come up with for the night. 

He was different from the others; she didn’t know how back then, but she’d come to realize that all of them had little regard for each other, her included. With Tali, it was … he seemed to, well … not disregard her. There was even a moment when she thought there could be more than not-disregarding but Tali was a bard, and a bard was wont to roam by nature. So Tali had left with a troupe and Sera had met Ophelia soon after. 

How strange it was that Tali was here and Ophelia was nowhere to be found. 

The fish was fresh and briny, the batter crunchy and delightfully salty; a delectable reminder of stolen moments from another lifetime. She took a moment to savor another piece before finally asking what had been on her mind. 

“So how do you do it? How do you see through the fey glamour?” The terms had been made clear to her when she’d pacted herself to Titania: she would be forgotten by everyone she had ever known, able to vanish without a trace, as long as she never spoke of her past in detail. 

She'd kept her end of it with excruciating tenacity, a fact that often cause tension between her and Astarion. And yet Tali still recognized her last night. 

“Well you see I met this woman, gorgeous, a little insane.” 

“Tali!” Sera groaned and rolled her eyes. 

Tali waved his hands around in a grandiose gesture to ward off her irritation. “No - wait. The thing is, she’s like you, made a bargain with some fey - calls it Fuckface of all things. We’ve gotten close, really close. Met her playing this absolute shithole, still think she might have been planning to rob the place after. Anyway, the point is, I think being around her has some of the fey magic rubbing off on me. On our way back to the city I swear I saw a crystal frog in the morning rain!” 

The crystal frog had been one of Tali’s pet obsessions; a creature of the feywild appearing on this plane and bringing luck to anyone who could spot it. 

The steady influence of another fey could possibly explain Tali's immunity and really, it was the only plausible notion at the moment. Other than Titania hating Astarion enough to want to bend her own rules just to upset him. Which Sera found doubtful… but not impossible. 

Silence settled over them for a moment while she contemplated the possibilities. 

“So what now for Lady Serafina, the Hero of Baldur’s Gate?” Tali snickered while heaping titles upon her. 

“Oh, stop it.” She felt herself flush; it was impossible to get used to people calling her that. “We’re going to travel a bit, the whole reason I made this deal in the first place. Get far away from this city. Though with any luck, mother’s house has been caved in by Nautiloids.” 

“You and your remarkable pale, ruby-eyed paramour?” Tali waggled his eyebrows suggestively. 

“I suppose he is a bit pale…” Sera tried but she had a sinking feeling the truth was obvious.

Tali leaned in conspiratorially. “He’s a vampire right? That's why you need to head back at sunset.”

“How did you guess?” He'd never lost the ability to be entirely vexing, it seemed. 

Throwing back his head, he laughed merrily. “I keep myself well-read up on these things, you know - the great macabre matters. And he doesn't do a very good job concealing those fangs. Lucky you, a vampire lover.”

“Admit it, you’ll be curious forever.” The sun was kissing the horizon and Sera would head back and meet up with Astarion soon. Tali too had some place to be. Their reunion was at an end, it seemed, and a slight ache spread through her chest. She'd resigned herself to having no one from her past, and now she had one of her dearest friends - a part of her hated to lose that again so soon. 

“And what of Taliesin, Faerûn's greatest bard. Where are you headed now that you've seen at least some of the city still stands?”

“I'll meet back up with the rest of the troupe, maybe head north before the snows set in, see what trouble we can make.” Tali turned to look at her, munching on the last piece of fish. “Don’t be so somber, it’s a bad look on that pretty face.” 

“Better?” she said, forcing a small smile onto her face. “It feels too soon to part.” 

“That’s painfully sweet, fair lady, but we’ll keep in touch. Your wizard friend has a tower in Waterdeep right? He won’t mind holding messages.” 

She couldn’t help but laugh. Only Tali would presume that the wizard she’d just told him was quite powerful would accept being their messenger. “Maybe if I actually ask him.”

Tali made a dismissive noise. “If you must.” Standing, he stretched his hand out to help her to her feet, and ended up tilting his head to look up at her. “Time to get back to your sanguine love.” 

Tali wasn’t the only goodbye she'd be saying in the days to come. The very next evening was Duke Ravengard's mysterious dinner. Those who remained behind of the companions had been invited to dine with him, Counsellor Florrick, Liara Portyr; the de facto leadership of Baldur’s Gate. 

When the invite had first come, Sera had worried about the possibility of a forced reunion with her beloathed mother. Not that Lady Glacies should recognize her with Titania’s spell, but Sera wasn’t keen on testing the limits. In addition to the rather grim prospects for Baldur’s Gate with her mother in a seat of power. She had pushed until Ravengard named names, and then, satisfied, agreed to attend.

Now she was standing in Shadowheart’s screened-off dressing area in a dress of purple satin, simple but elegant, eyes closed while Shadowheart applied color to her eyelids.

“There,” Shadowheart said, “all done.” 

Opening her eyes, Sera took a moment to study herself in the mirror. The dress was nicer than anything she'd worn since the Nautiloid, with flowing skirts and soft lines accenting her figure. It was complimented only by red tint on her lips and silver color on her eyes. 

Evidently Shadowheart hadn't been able to arrange for jewelry in this surprise, and anything they had found on the road had been sold quickly to pay for supplies. 

She'd come and dragged Sera away almost as soon as she'd gotten out of bed for the night, barely leaving her time to scribble a quick note to Astarion. It was nice to see her friend genuinely excited. She’d had her own struggles, and while she'd aided the refugees of Baldur’s Gate with aplomb, she seemed to be lacking a bit of spark. 

When they'd reached the space she'd made for herself in the encampment of families, Shadowheart hadproudly presented a pair of dresses obtained from Figaro's shop 

“Since we’re both headed back out onto the road and a life of roughing it, I thought we should get one night of refinement.” Shadowheart would be accompanying Gale on the way back to Waterdeep, and then off on her own adventures. She wasn’t ready to trade one goddess’ cloisters for another’s. 

“You just want to see me all dressed up,” Sera had teased, deflecting the wave of sadness at the thought of parting with yet another dear friend. 

“Maybe I do, Astarion shouldn't get to have all the fun with you.”

The flirty exchange had reminded Sera of the early days of their journey when she'd felt a pull towards the mysterious cleric she was still puzzling out. That was before she woke to fangs flashing in the moonlight.

But she suspected Shadowheart had also found another home for her affections. 

Leaving Sera to inspect her handiwork, Shadowheart started on her own finishing touches, accenting her dress of dark green with kohl black eyes. Green was an unexpected pick for her; perhaps her mind was on that object of her affections when she chose it. 

“You miss her, don't you?” The words were tumbling out before she could think better of them. 

Shadowheart paused and breathed deeply.. “I do, but what’s there to be done? Only wait and hope. I should have said something sooner. I wanted to, at the end, but if I stopped her, she’d regret it forever. Lae’zel won’t know peace until her people are free.” 

She sniffled but caught herself before tears could appear. “I suppose that’s a bit more than you asked,” she said, offering a weak smile. 

“But about as much as I had guessed. I should have taken that bet with Astarion and Gale.” Sera came to stand next to her, placing her hand on Shadowheart’s shoulder, hoping she was a reassuring presence. “I think she knew though and I don’t believe you’ve seen the last of her forever.” 

Shadowheart waved her off, definitely not trying to hold back tears. “Oh gods, what was that tripe? Is that what being with Astarion does to a person?” 

Sera snorted a laugh in response. “I feel like my romantic nature has been insulted. But I’ll relay your compliments to Astarion.” 

The two of them dissolved into laughter, the pain, for the moment, buried.

Astarion was waiting when Shadowheart deemed them “refined” enough looking for the evening. He was at the stairs leading out of what once was the temple proper, away from the general chaos of the camp. 

Dressed splendidly himself in a black and gold brocade coat and matching trousers, Astarion was an ethereal vision. Turning, he caught her eye, and smiled at her. Not the smile of false charm that he’d once used on her, but one genuine enough that it changed the whole character of his face. 

“Darling, there you are!” His eyes widened, taking in the whole of her appearance, and then narrowed to a seductive hooded gaze she knew all too well. His voice turned to a sultry purr. “Don’t you look good enough to just eat right up?” 

Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips, lavishing a kiss on it, and then another on her wrist. 

“Can we save the ‘eating her right up’ part until you’re back in your room? I don’t wish to be late to whatever the Grand Duke had planned,” Shadowheart said, a smile in her voice giving away her lack of any real irritation. 

Astarion sighed dramatically. “Fine, if you insist on spoiling the fun.” 

“I do, in fact,” Shadowheart shot back. 

Taking Sera's arm, Astarion pulled her tight as they made their way up the stairs. Leaning close enough that his breath tickled her ear and sent shivers down her spine, Astarion whispered to her, “You truly look stunning, love. Ah, if only I could keep you in such finery forever.” 

Sera scrunched up her nose; old memories of balls, receptions, and banquets making her stomach turn. “I’d prefer it be a rare occurrence.” 

“Ah, right,” Astarion sounded a bit dejected. Despite how little she had been able to share with him, she’d been able to convey that her home life had been both privileged and deeply unhappy. “I suppose that suits our plans well though,” he recovered with a dashing grin. 

“Plans I wouldn’t have any other way,” she said,with fantasies of the adventure ahead already filling her mind. There was a whole world beyond Baldur’s Gate just waiting, and they could see it without worms waiting to rip apart their brains. 

But first the Duke’s dinner. 

The invitation had been unusual in that the Duke had summoned them to an address in the lower city. A modest house stood at the location, two stories with a small courtyard. On one side, across the street a forge was being rebuilt, on the other, a building that might have been a shop at one point. She and Astarion had briefly discussed the mystery but concluded maybe the Duke wanted privacy from every Patriar looking to secure a place in the new order of the city’s leadership. 

In the light of lamps hanging on the iron fence, Duke Ravengard waited along with Counsellor Florrick, Liara Portyr - a newly minted Duke herself since that morning - along with Gale who was fussing over a sigil he was marking on the stones of the courtyard. 

The three of them approached to warm greetings as they heard arguing down the street. 

“... but we are not late Jaheira, and we could not allow Boo to miss the celebration.” 

Sera could swear she heard Jaheira sigh from where they stood. 

“There’s no harm done, look everyone has just gathered.” 

Halsin’s strong voice carried to them and Sera felt a concern she hadn’t realized she’d been carrying melt away. Halsin had come. Things had been strained between them before he’d left. The confession of his affection that she’d not been able to return had changed the whole dynamic. Where once she’d found the Druid warm and outgoing, he seemed reserved around her, and especially if Astarion was about. Though Astarion made no secret of glaring daggers at the large elf and hovering over her as if to stake his claim on her. 

He hadn’t even given them a proper good-bye. Just one day he announced his plans and the next he was gone. She wanted to at least feel they parted as proper friends. 

Sera waved the three of them over, a smile pulling up the corners of her mouth. Halsin caught her eyes and inclined his head, acknowledging the greeting. A reassuring gesture, it wasn’t all wrong between them still.

“Ah look, Boo, Sera is excited to see you! And Astarion is not lost in the shadows. Too bad we do not have a sunflower.”

“It’s good to see you too, Minsc.” Sera artfully dodged one of Minsc’s crushing hugs. There would be more throughout the night, she knew. 

“Behaving yourself, Astarion?” Jaheira teased, pulling him into a hug. 

“Yes, mother,” he grumbled, not resisting her. 

Gale cleared his throat to draw their attention. “Well, seems like we’re all here then. Except one.”

Turning back toward his sigil, Gale began to move his hands, steadily channeling the Weave. “Invoco Te.” 

A flash of brilliant red light filled the air, followed by the smell of sulfur. When it cleared, a figure stood in Gale’s sigil with a warrior’s bearing and crowned with horns.

“Wyll!” It felt like the exclamation came in unison. 

And then everyone was crashing upon each other like waves on the shore, the group mingling together as though it were a night back at camp. Only Sera hung back for a moment. Wyll was a dear friend, true, but there was one person who’s absence his presence had made glaringly obvious. 

“Couldn’t figure out how to keep her heart from exploding instantly.” 

Sera jumped, she hadn’t even noticed Gale walking up next to her. 

“Elminster is working on it, but it just didn’t happen in time. But she is somewhere safe, for right now.” 

She tried to shake off the melancholy of Karlach’s absence but it had dug its claws in deep. All of them should be here, one last night before they all truly parted ways. Yet the one who deserved it the most was languishing in Avernus. 

“Promise me she won’t be forgotten.” Sera turned to Gale. “You and Elminster, you’ll solve this.” 

Gale nodded solemnly. “We won’t stop, I swear. Now go, join the party, rescue Astarion from Minsc’s affections.” 

Following his gaze, she found Astarion, caught in one of Minsc’s bearhugs. It was lucky he didn’t need to breathe. 

“He does look a bit in need of a hero.”  

The rest of the night passed with feasting from a dinner prepared by the Duke’s own staff, plenty of wine, and warm conversation; the hours slipping by far too quickly as the group moved between the courtyard and the dining table. The windows of the house remained open, beckoning in the warm air of the late summer evening, the scent of the sea arriving with it. Eventually when voices began to grow quiet as they lounged around the table, Ravengard stood and called for quiet. 

“I wanted to thank you all again - without you the fate of Baldur’s Gate and all of Faerûn would have been grim indeed. I’m sure you’re all wondering, why choose a home in the lower city for this occasion?” They all nodded and as he looked squarely at Sera. “That is itself, another thank you.” From his pocket, he produced a latchkey and extended it to her. 

Sera knit her brows together in confusion, still unsure where this was going, and hesitantly accepted the key from him. 

“Serafina, both you and Astarion have no home of your own. I know you intend to travel, but the Gate takes care of its own. This is your home, whenever you wish to return to it, even just to keep some belongings here. It will be well watched over. Your friend Dammon has purchased the forge next door.” 

Emotions swelled and warred in her heart. A home of her own was no small thing - but here, in Baldur’s Gate, where her family lay just beyond the border to the upper city? Would it truly ever be home? 

“A home…” Astarion breathed from where he sat next to her. 

And Astarion had no home at all that he could remember. Despite his use of the word, Szarr manor was anything but a home. 

Titania’s magic would hold and keep her hidden, she had to believe it. This would mean too much for both of them. She squeezed the key tightly in her hands. “Thank you, your Grace.” 

“Don’t thank me alone, your friends petitioned for this as well.” 

“And to make sure you weren’t too far of a walk, Cub,” Jaheira said. 

“It’s true, she was very specific,” Shadowheart confirmed. 

“At least you know I’m not to blame if she’s too close,” Wyll added, with a light-hearted laugh. 

As the conversation started to flow again and some wandered back to the courtyard, Gale made his way over to her and Astarion. 

“Oh no,” Astarion grumbled. “Don’t tell me you're here to share some ‘words of wisdom’. I’ve had quite enough of those for my endless lifetime.”

Gale answered with a sincere chuckle. “Never let that rapier wit dull, my fanged friend.” He settled himself into a chair across the table from them. “No advice, only a gift.” Producing a sapphire from the pocket from his fine robe of deep purple, he crushed it and spoke an incantation. “Ex Textura.”  Where the sapphire had been, a plain wooden box appeared. 

“Theatrics,” Astarion mumbled. 

“Protection, and you’ll see why.” Gale was not put off by Astarion’s spikiness. Sera had come to believe it was a form of affection between him and their wizard friend. 

Setting the box on the table, he opened it where they couldn’t see, and pulled his first offering from it. “A bag of holding, so you’ll have anything you need on the road.” 

“Gale,” Sera started, warmed by the gift, but he held up a hand to pause her words. 

“One more thing.” Another bag was drawn from the box. “See this is something quite extraordinary, if I do say so myself. Even had a bit of a hand from Elmister. You see, in this bag is a tent, but not just any tent. From the outside it looks like something an ordinary traveller would use, but it’s bigger on the inside. Inside you’ll find it like the pavilion of royalty. All you need to do is set the bundle on the ground and speak the words. It will keep anything you place in it - trunks, rugs, furniture. And the sun’s rays won’t pass through it.” 

“That’s…” Astarion spoke softly. “Well, very up to your usual standards of being grandiose.” A sharp, forced laugh followed his words. 

“I think you mean ‘thank you, Gale,’” Sera corrected. “Come on, I know you can do it,” she punctuated her words with a playful poke to Astarion’s ribs. 

Raising his hands in defeat, he sighed. “Fine, fine. Thank you, Gale. Are you happy?” 

“Very.”

 With a quick kiss to his cheek, she rewarded his efforts. 

“You two are most welcome. Couldn’t let my dearest friends wander around Faerûn without the most comfort possible.” 

Beside her, Astarion sniffled, but none of them made mention of it. 

Gradually, the evening wound down and the hour of parting arrived. While Gale assisted Wyll in returning to Avernus and Karlach, and Astarion was receiving some last advice from Jaheira, Sera sought out Halsin. 

“Returning to Reithwin tomorrow?” Something casual, something safe to talk about. 

“Indeed. There’s much work to be done. Perhaps you and Astarion could visit sometime while you are traveling.” 

“I’d like that,” she said sincerely. “I hope you find peace there,” her lips said, but her heart beat a chorus of “I’m sorry. Sorry I couldn’t be that person for you, sorry if I somehow led you on.” 

“I think I will. My destiny seems tied to that place.” Suddenly, he pulled her into a quick, but strong hug. “Be well, Serafina. And take care of Astarion.” 

Halsin inclined his head toward Astarion, who had wandered over to her side. 

“Take care of yourself. We’ll not be around to rescue you from goblins again.” 

Halsin answered with a merry laugh. “I shall indeed keep that in mind.” 

With that, the two began to make their way toward the gate of the courtyard. 

“One more goodbye?” a familiar voice called.

Astarion tensed. “Hello, Dal, what do - is that Midnight?” 

Dalyria stood just beyond the fence, a black tressym of all things cradled in her arms. “It is, I couldn’t leave her in that awful place. So I thought perhaps I’d show her some place better to call home.” 

The two of them had slowly crept closer to each other, until they stood at the very fence line, postures wary, eyes wide. 

“How did you even know where we were?” Astarion asked with suspicion. 

“I ran into your wizard friend while looking for you, had to follow rumors of a pale elf that saved the city. He’s very…chatty and let slip about this. I suppose he realized I couldn’t come in anyway unless invited. I was hoping you’d let Midnight stay.” 

Astarion reached out to gently stroke the tressym’s head. “Of course Midnight can stay.” He turned to Sera. “She used to prowl Szarr palace. I suppose we were all a bit fond of her.” 

Midnight waited for no further words, leaping from Dalyria’s arms into the yard and making her way toward the door. It seemed they had a tressym to watch over their home as well. 

“You may as well come in too,” Astarion said stiffly, gesturing for her to join them in the yard. 

“That Gale does certainly know a lot about tressyms,” she said, her lips quirking up in a short-lived but warm smile.

“I suppose you didn’t just come here to deliver Midnight,” he spoke warily still. Sera wondered if a part of him would always view the others with suspicion, not that she would blame him. 

“As I said another good-bye. I’m following the others to the Underdark. I stayed to sell what I could from the manor, we need funds to trade with. And I wanted to give you this.” 

Dal handed him an envelope that Astarion took stiffly. “Inside is coordinates to where we’ve settled. And the Szarr vault key. I’ve left part of our ‘inheritance’ in the Counting House for you. I would have told you sooner…but you didn’t come back.” 

“I didn’t have a reason.” Bitterness lurked at the edge of Astarion’s words. 

Dal gave him a sad look, before a hug that lasted merely a second, leaving Astarion too stunned to react. “I know you feel that way now, but if you change your mind, come visit us in the Underdark, brother. You too, Sera. I’m glad he has you.” 

And with that, Dalyriawaved and walkedk away.

Astarion tucked the envelope in a pocket and reached out to squeeze her hand. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Sera asked gently.

“No - not right now anyway. Let’s get back, you need rest before tomorrow night.”  Kissing her temple, he kept hold of her hand as they started their last walk back to the refugee camp. 

The last of the night passed peacefully into dawn. When the sun set again and the stars rose, they found Sera and Astarion, back at the house in the lower city. The house that they would call theirs from now on. 

The courtyard had an unused patch of garden, as though it awaited them to leave their mark on this place. By the light of the moon, Sera was digging a small hole in the dirt. 

“Are you sure this is where you want to leave it?” Astarion asked wistfully, a small pot the colors of twilight containing a plant with blue blossoms cradled in his hands. 

“I’m sure. This is where it’s meant to grow.” Sera took the forget-me-not from his hands and gently transferred it to the waiting spot in the dirt. 

Standing back up, she wrapped her arms around Astarion’s neck and pulled him into a deep kiss. “This is home, our home. No matter where we go, we can always come back here.”

Astarion buried his face in her neck and was still. “Wherever you are is home enough for me, Sunlight.” 

“Then let’s get this adventure started, Starry Sky. The road awaits.” 

[vixstarria]

Gangly teen Astarion, all legs and ears. 😁

“In another world…”

Spent my free time this weekend doing a background practice of the mind as well as figures walking (it’s so hard to draw ppl walking whyyyy)

But @just-a-refrigerator made a comment about gangly teenage Astarion, and @tragedybunny mentioned AU teenage Tali hanging out with him — so then this happened and it made for the best prompt, thanks y’all!

They would have given each other hell… they would have been the most rascally rascals… I can just see them stealing pies from windowsills and putting kick-me signs on the back of important people and trying to steal all the moonstones and getting into all sorts of shenanigans… in another world ;u;

And yes it’s in Evereska :>

[peachy-skies-writings]

Headcanon Requests are Open!

Hey everyone,

I've decided to try out requests by opening them for headcanons only. If it goes well, I might open up my requests for fics.

Currently, I only write fluff or angst. I'm building my way up to writing smut (I'm nervous). These will be x reader (pls specify if you want male or female. If you don't, I'll just do GN!)

I'll write them asap but I work and study full time so might have a lil delay on them.

Please see below a list of people I'll do headcanons for below the cut :D If there's anything you're not sure of, please ask.

Stardew Valley

Bachelors

Bachelorettes

Voltron Legendary Defender

Shiro

Keith

Lance

Hunk

Allura

Coran

Lotor

Mass Effect

Garrus

Kaiden

Miranda

Tali

Liara

Thane

Dragon Age

Alistair

Fenris

Anders

Isabella

Solas

Cullen

Sera

Cassandra

Baldur's Gate 3

Astarion

Gale

Wyll

Karlach

Shadowheart

Lae'Zel

Halsin

Stranger Things

Steve

Eddie

Robin

[stillinracooncity]

here, waiting for updates on the 999 fanfics I follow without thinking that people have to socialize, study, work, eat, go to the bathroom and sleep.

[snowfolly]

“Oh, your love is sunlight.”

Listening to Sunlight by Hozier over and over… thinking about these assholes and making myself sad. I love them so much.

This is the first time I’ve done a painting like this (using a screenshot as a reference for the most part) in a hot second.

Self indulgent tavstarion playlist here.