#cazador wins au

[converse-luke]

WIP Wednesday

Yeah I’m back with more of my Cazador Wins au because I’m dying to share some more of it. Tagging @acestarion-panic so you see it because your tags on the older sections I’ve shared made me really excited to work on this fic.

If anyone has questions about this wip feel free to message me or send me an ask!

The falsity he constructed is still there. It’s been waiting ever since he first left. “You,” Gale begins, stalking towards it. “Did you honestly believe that I lied about loving you?” He wishes this could be a fight. “I meant it then and I mean it now. I love you!” There is no response. There can’t be a response. “Damn you Astarion! I would have told you a thousand times over if given the chance! You can’t have died thinking you weren’t loved.” Tears hit the Weave. “Damn you for making me want to live again and then dying. I love you. I always will. I don’t know if I can save you but I’m going to try.” Mystra’s presence grows in the back of his mind and the image of Astarion disappears. What once was a comforting weight upon his shoulders is now a tight noose. Gale flees the Weave.

He’s still sitting on the floor but his cheeks are now wet. Gale wipes at them and neatly tucks the empty box and note back in the hollowed out book. The book he was looking for, The Hells Unleashed, is under at least ten different copies of A Pleasurable Deal. Still sitting on the floor, Gale cracks it open, flipping to the chapter on Cania.

There isn’t much in there that Gale doesn’t already know from light reading as a student. He snaps the book shut and discards it, raking a hand through his hair. Maybe it’s his frustration manifesting, or grief tricking him, but Gale is certain that he feels the orb pulling his attention towards his pack.

His pack, where the Annals of Karsus sits, unread. Like so many things, there had been no time to look into it. But now, while they are taking the time to heal and grieve, the book is as alluring as a harpy’s song. Gale rises from the floor with creaking knees, pulling his pack to him. The red and gold book is tucked behind one of his extra robes, the orb practically sings at the sight of it. Gale pulls it out, fingers reverently tracing over the rebound spine.

Astarion hadn’t wanted to give it to him. He’d been ready to push back even more until Gale held out a hand expectantly. Gale hadn’t been kind about asking for the book a second time. If he had known it was one of Astarion’s final hours…

If he had known he would have done so many things differently.

But he didn’t and the regret is eating at him faster than the orb ever could. Gale opens the tome. The magic that pours from it is like being hit with a gust of wind. It is so different from the magic he knows, there is no safety in it, only power and opportunity. But the crown, oh the crown. With that not only could he bring Astarion back, but he could give him the ability to walk in the sun again.

Gale could make them both gods.

[world-of-shadows-and-music]

Just One Look

Here is a Soulmate!AU for Astarion where when you meet each other you see in color for the first time. He ended up winning the poll I posted with more than 50% of the vote! I do plan on posting a soulmate!AU for the other companions in the poll as well but I don’t have a timeframe for that. Not beta'ed, we die like men.

Summary: Astarion has spent over 200 years living in this grey colorless world, he didn’t think getting a tadpole shoved into his brain would lead to him meeting his alleged soulmate.

Pairing: Astarion x GN!Tav / Astarion x GN!Reader

Warnings: Typical violence, Astarion being Astarion, no use of Y/N

Word count: 348

Over 200 years. That is how long Astarion has been living in this cold, grey, colorless world. When he was young, he had heard the stories, how the world would blossom into unimaginable colors. He had even been hopeful once about meeting this alleged soulmate but once he was captured and turned into a spawn of Cazador he could not even dare to dream of hope.

Now it also was not in his plans to be kidnapped by illithids and have a tadpole implanted inside his skull but the for the first time since he could recall, he was able to feel the warmth of the sun on his chilled skin. He would take that as a win. After the Nautiloid crashed into the ground his only goal was finding out if there were any other survivors and keep himself alive through all this.

It did not take long, hearing voices carried on the wind coming from the wreckage. As they got closer Astarion called out asking for their assistance. The fall of footsteps approaching almost made him grin until his eyes met the approaching survivor. Suddenly, the world seemed to melt away and the only thing he could hear was static filling his ears. Colors came slowly; their eyes first, second their skin glowing in the sun light, the colors of their stained and singed clothes. Soon they were a cutout of color against the world of grey. Then the color started to bleed into the world around them, turning the sky blue and the grass green. It was wonderful and terrifying and if Astarion was still a living, breathing being he swears his heart would have exploded out of his chest.

Astarion’s soulmate seemed to be just as shocked as he was, just staring at him with wide eyes and their mouth stuck open as if saying ‘o’. He couldn’t deny they were pleasing to look at, Astarion felt as if he could stare at them all day but he could not handle the silence that grew between them, so he broke it.

“Well… Hello, Pet.”

[skeptical-lynx]

I am curious about your headcanon Batstarion. You headcanon him being able to transform into bat as spawn? Did Tav not know that he could shapeshift into bat? Is she knew...did she show him pity in your comic/panels?

Hi! I draw Batstarion in two versions. one of them is set in bg3 universe and I headcanon that Astarion gains part of the classic vampire abilities after the events of the game once he starts to drink enough blood regularly. because tadpole was blocking much of his vampiric powers, it’s fun to headcanon that he, even as Spawn, can have some superior abilities in time

And the other Batstarions [from 3 comic panels] are an AU I call “you saved a fluffy bat and got yourself a sassy vampire comic”. This plot is completely alternative and there are no specific spawn rules there. Astarion is just a Vampire [I am not even sure all the Cazador subplot is there, I haven’t built the full story around it]. Vapula found him injured as a bat and thought it was a normal bat, all while he fell for her and now wants to win her heart. technically, he is quite carefree in those comics and probably stays mostly in bat form, because he shows signs of acting like a bat would without thinking how a “human” should. so, this is just a fun AU romcom story

[shenanigans-and-imagines]

Hey! For the trope mashup, how about 9 and 53? 🤩

Dance AU + Mutual Pining

send me two (2) prompts + a pairing

A/N: You didn’t give me a pairing so I’m going with Astarion and Evie. If you had another pairing in mind, feel free to send me this again. 😁

Okay in this AU Astarion and Evie are both dancers but from different expertise

Evie does ballroom competitions, mostly west coast swing but a few others while Astarion worked more as a solo artist (maybe ballet?)

But Astarion has recently broken off from his extremely abusive coach Cazador and is looking to move on to different things

He really only knows about the dance world and is looking to make a new name for himself

Enter Evie who also happens to be looking for a new partner herself

It’s a running gag in the community of Evie being a lucky charm; one season with her and you’ll win the second, provided you switch partners of course

Astarion so enters the ballroom dance scene looking for a teacher and partner to help launch his career

He approaches Evie due to her reputation and smooth talks his way into an audition

Evie is skeptical, but it’s obvious the second they start dancing together that there is instant chemistry on stage

Astarion still needs major training to get used to the new medium and rules, but there is no denying his natural grace and showmanship

He’s taken aback by Evie’s teaching style, slowly unclenching even when he makes a mistake; she’s not going to berate and beat him, just correct him and move on

He’s safe with her

Evie meanwhile has a hard time denying his charms, even when she knows it will land her in trouble

She’s aware of this pattern by now; she mistakes dancing chemistry with the real thing and falls fast for somebody who doesn’t want her, but damn her if it’s not happening all over again

She keeps it close to the chest though, ignoring the pangs every time he smiles her way, or worse when he stands up for her among the other competitors placing a hand on her waist as if to keep her close and coincidentally keep his hand occupied with something besides strangling the person in front of them

She’s not about to admit her feelings, especially after he starts to open up about Cazador and the abuse he suffered, she doesn’t want him to feeler pressured into a relationship. Besides chances are he’ll move on after the season ends, everybody does

Astarion meanwhile is actively denying his growing feelings. Falling for Evie is 100% not what he signed up for

He was going to break in, make a name for himself and not make the mistake of being tied down again!

But no! She had to go and be kind, and funny, and beautiful, and why God did she have to care about him?!

She was supposed to just see him as a means to an end, like everybody else. But she didn’t, and now neither can he.

And who is he anyway? He knows Evie’s history and how she’s been burned before. He’s never been in a stable relationship in his life. He doesn’t even know what it looks like. How can he presume to give her that when it’s the one thing she seems to want?

It’s a mess

I’m not sure what finally breaks them, but Astarion is the one to finally crack and say something first

He’s not used to this pining thing while Evie is a certified gold mentalist

Also can’t forget at least one performance where they dance to “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” by Doris Day

[slusheeduck]

Casual Banter Masterpost

aka my Fictober 2023 drabbles! I figure I might as well get them all in one place on Tumblr, since I have them in one AO3 fic. Using the titles and descriptions from AO3.

Featuring my named Tav (Falerin), Tav/Astarion, a lot of Gale, and most importantly INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE COMPANIONS.

Day 1: Smart - Astarion asks for a magic lesson. Day 2: Prize - Karlach wins a prize at the circus. Day 3: Fireside - One last campfire chat before the Shadowlands. Day 4: Cooking Lesson - Lae'zel learns to cook. Day 5: Mask - Astarion tries on a mask for funsies. It goes badly. Day 6: Sick - Gale and Falerin chat about friendship and illnesses Day 7: Anchor - Astarion regrettably holds Halsin's hand. Day 8: Good Taste - Gale shares a treat, and a good time is had by all. Day 9: A Talk - Just a little chat, in regards to some campsite romance. Day 10: Drizzt Do'Urden - Wyll, Karlach, and Astarion find some common ground. Day 11: Temporary - The campsite romance hits a snag. Day 12: Mirror - Gale makes good on teaching Astarion magic. Day 13: Lost Wizard: If Found, Contact Tara - Tara despairs over the state of her runaway pet wizard. Day 14: Clowning Around - Falerin uses a disguise kit. Astarion wants a divorce. Day 15: Proper Horn Care - There's no possible way to write this summary without it looking horny. Day 16: A Token - Halsin carves a little gift for Astarion. Day 17: One Nice Thing - Karlach shows Shadowheart something nice, when she really needs it. Day 18: 90% Evil - Why WOULDN'T the rogue be the one to talk to the death cultist? Day 19: Seamstress - No one in camp but Astarion would have survived Home Ec. Day 20: The Selfless Choice - Or, How To Be A Confidant To Both Halves Of A Couple In The Face Of World-Ending Catastrophe, By Gale Dekarios Day 21: Taste Test - Falerin is...kind of a fucking weirdo. This is Gale's burden to bear. Day 22: Curl-based Despair - Astarion experiences #curlygirlproblems. Falerin helps. Day 23: Hunger - Someone gets a little hangry. Day 24: Pact, Pt. 1 - Astarion finds out about Fal's illness. Day 25: Pact, Pt. 2 - Astarion finds out about Fal's illness. Day 26: The Cuddliest Foe - Lae'zel does some research. Clive assists. Day 27: Homecoming - Two resident Baldurians discuss coming home. Day 28: Date - Astarion gets some new clothes. Day 29: A Healthy Dose of Theatrics - Are you really best friends if you've never been tempted to throttle each other? Day 30: Starfall -The newly formed party takes a moment to enjoy a magical sight. Day 31: Epilogue - A quiet moment after saving the world. Post-Fictober Drabbles:

Stars in His Eyes - Fal learns about naming ceremonies--and why Astarion has the name he does.

Slumber Party - Astarion and Gale have a fun night of kicking their feet, giggling, and discussing the all-consuming power they both intend on taking for themselves. Kidnapped - Astarion's siblings succeed in getting him back to the manor - but he's stronger now. Plus he has a very, very pissed-off partner. Rewriting The Story - After defeating Cazador and a tryst in the graveyard, it's time for some relationship reflection. Happy - Surely being the lover of an ascended vampire is the happiest ending one could hope for. (Ascended Astarion AU)

Wild Heart - A brief moment, the morning after the almost ascension, where two early risers have a chat.

Matters of Balance - Withers performs a resurrection. Breathe Deep, and Move - You can never really go home.

Side-Tracked - As they're embroiled in a murder mystery, Fal decides to take Astarion out for some enrichment.

Late Night Thoughts - Astarion has some thoughts on Falerin's lie from earlier in the day. (Bonus chapter for Side-Tracked)

New Tricks - Astarion discovers a new trick while trying to herd a cat.

Party Favors - The ultra-self-indulgent take on the ever popular tiefling party.

Meet-Cute - Every couple starts somewhere. And sometimes that's on the ground, with a knife.

Five Good Nights - Four good nights shared before the tiefling party, and one shared after.

The Brink - Falerin reaches his breaking point in the House of Hope. Luckily, Gale knows exactly what he's going through--and he's more than glad to help.

~

Rewinding the Thread - CB adjacent 3-shot

A chance conversation in Baldur's Gate leads to an unlikely visitor to Falerin and Astarion's home a year after the Netherbrain's defeat. She pleads for just one thing: that Astarion pays a visit to his family - his true family, the one that's mourned him for two centuries.

In The Weeds - Astarion decides to take in the sights of Baldur's Gate during the day, and has a nice conversation with a local.

The Invitation - A surprise visitor leads to a bit of arguing, an invitation home, and quite possibly Faerûn's most awkward tea.

[thatfreshi]

"Matters of the Heart" (Uni AU P. 14)

tw - mentions of abuse, athletic injuries

Another week passes, and things slowly return to normal. Halsin texts you every morning and night, always saying sweet things, as if his words are coated in sugar and honey. Astarion has started to perk up again, but he has stopped telling you anything about work, especially anything about Cazador. He takes all of his phone calls privately, and hides any accumulated wounds carefully. After that morning, seeing you cry over him, he can't give you another reason to be upset. At some point, he must have talked to Gale, because the two seem to have a silent understanding, although the artist never approaches you about the subject. This Saturday, Karlach has her first meet of the year, and your little ragtag group of friends has been invited.

"Oh Goddess, she needs to wear those shorts more. I can't! I just can't, she's too much!"

Of course, Shadowheart can't go one second around Karlach without thirsting.

"Oh, that's her girlfriend?"

Halsin came too, a great excuse for the two of you to see each other again. Not much has occurred, and he's obviously very charismatic, but you haven't been getting that butterflies in your stomach feeling. Despite this, you try your best to give him a solid chance, knowing it's very possible the recent stress has gotten the better of you.

"Yeah, they're quite cute together."

You're short with him, not on purpose, but because you're focused on other things: your project presentation coming up soon, an upcoming Halloween party, and the fact that Astarion has seemed quite fidgety all day. You move to whisper to him.

"You alright? You seem anxious."

He doesn't respond, instead giving a small thumbs up, not making eye contact with you.

"I think they're about to start."

Gale gets everyone focused back on the match that's about to start. Karlach is going against another tall buff woman from an opposing school, and the fight begins slowly, the two trying to figure out the other's plan. At some point, they get repositioned for going out of bounds, but Coach Zariel takes Karlach aside before the match continues again.

"That's weird. They already talked everything through beforehand, she was texting me about it."

Shadow picks up on the weird feeling that arises, and the rest of you follow suit. While watching the two of them talk, it's clear that tempers are rising, until your friend backs down, and goes back to the match. Things continue normally, until the two begin grappling. In between grabs and attempted chokes, it's hard to see exactly what's going on. That is, until the opposing woman yelps in pain, and the ref separates the two. The ref then proceeds to fight with your school's coach.

"What in the hell is going on?"

Wyll is just as confused as the rest of you, unsure as to why things ended so fast, or why there's now an argument going on. Unlike Karlach usually is, she seems cold, and doesn't go to check on her opponent. Instead, the ref ends up giving her the point, and eventually the win, because the other woman can't fight due to severe pain. When you all meet up with her afterward, Karlach is distraught.

"What happened out there babe?"

Shadowheart is immediately at her side.

"I don't know. Coach, she pulled me aside, said I should for a spinal twist. I told her I thought that was an illegal move, but she just kept pushing it, so I did it. I guess the ref couldn't prove it though. Feels terrible, I hope she's alright."

"Why would Zariel even tell you to do that?"

"I don't know... but I don't like it."

The rest of you leave the two new lovebirds to talk about it alone. You turn your attention to Astarion.

"Did you still want to study later?"

"I would, but something came up. I have to leave soon actually."

You don't realize it, but a wave of sadness covers your face, apparent to both him and Halsin.

"I might see you tonight though?"

"Oh, Halsin and I actually have another date planned."

"Right, of course."

"Actually Tav, can we talk about that?"

You nod as Astarion takes his leave, silently reprimanding himself for being so pathetic over you and this thing with Halsin. He's like a hoarder when it comes to your time, obsessed with taking every moment of yours that can be shared, and Halsin has gotten in the way of that. Between how much he's had to work, it's hard to find time to see each other.

"What is it?"

Halsin has taken you aside.

"Listen, I've been having a wonderful time-"

"Me too! It's been great getting to know you."

You try to smile at him, but it fades when you realize he isn't saying it in a good way.

"I... I think your heart may be elsewhere though."

"What do you mean?"

"Maybe you don't see it yet, but that 'best friend' of yours?"

"Oh, Astarion? No, it's not like that at all."

"Maybe not now, but the way he looks at you? Something will come of it soon, and I won't be in the middle of it. It pains me, because you're so incredible, but I just can't get between other people."

"Halsin, are you breaking this off over some petty jealousy? Because, even if Astarion were into me like that, which he isn't, that doesn't mean I'm into him."

"Would you be though? If he was interested?"

You hesitate.

"My point has been made. Perhaps we can be good friends Tav? But in the meantime, take care."

Just like that, he's gone, and you're unsure what to do. You don't feel like crying, but you definitely don't feel good either.

"You alright Tav?"

Gale comes to your side.

"No... no, I'm not."

"Did the nature fanatic break things off? Thought he was too much of a sweetheart for that."

"He said he doesn't want to get between me and Astarion."

"Oh, is that so? Are you interested in our albino friend?"

"I... I don't know."

No one had presented the concept to you before. After that first encounter with him and the night at the diner, you assumed friendship was all it could ever be. You blocked off that possibility in your head. Besides, does he even have the space for a relationship? He of course, had sex with you that evening at the party, but you didn't even know each other. He wasn't present either, which makes things more complicated. Is that even the kind of thing he's looking for, a lover?

"Well, I'd figure that out then. Matters of the heart are better when resolved."

"Yeah, I guess you're right Gale."

The events of last week paint across your mind again, his drunken stupor, how quiet he's been since. You remember sobbing at the side of his bed, clawing in your mind for any way to get him out of this situation. Before you go too far into the memory, you come back to reality.

"Gale?"

"Hm?"

"You haven't told anyone about last week right? You know."

"Right, that evening. No. Although. Astarion didn't tell me much, just that he had it handled at it wasn't my business to share. Suppose he's right. You though, you know way more than I do."

"What makes you say that?"

"You eyes. They're full of concern every time you look at him, like something is permanently wrong. Of course, it's not my place to pry, but we've all started to become rather fond of him. I'd hate to see something bad happen all because he wants to keep his secrets."

"Trust me Gale, me too."

[asidian]

AU where instead of Dalyria and Petras being sent to straight up capture Astarion once the group is back in the city, Cazador sends them to grab Wyll instead to use as bait for Astarion to attend the Ritual.

FIVE FUN FACTS about this AU:

Assuming for this to work, Wyll has got to be alone, because otherwise I imagine it would go about as well as it did when they tried to take Astarion. So from everyone else's pov, Wyll just doesn't show up at the tavern where they're meant to be having an evening to decompress. Instead they go to look for him and find a note from Cazador

Astarion is some volatile, feral cat mix of rage and fear and indignation and oh-gods-Cazador-is-probably-torturing-him-right-now-isn't-he

They aren't properly prepared to face Cazador yet. It's early Act 3, and our heroes are a touch underleveled for a vampire lord

Astarion wants to go to Cazador's palace right NOW. He knows better than anyone what a difference a day can make, when all of Cazador's attention is focused on you

It's a fight they can't win. Cazador ascends; Astarion gets to see his friends lying dead on the ritual circle before his soul is ripped out of him. Wyll, who's in one of those hanging cages, dangling from the ceiling, does not get the mercy of a quick death. Cazador just leaves him there. Bad end :(

[autistichalsin]

bg3 hunger games au please show me the headcannons if ur up for it <3

HELL YEAH!

So here's my headcanons for each of the characters, including my Dark Urge. I haven't put either of my Tavs in here yet, but I might later! I haven't really worked out where Jaheira and Minsc are, other than that they're older and beloved mentors.

Baldur's Gate functions like the Capitol, while Menzoberranzan is more like District 13- with an even darker twist, since they want to outright conquer the nation instead. (As opposed to in the books, where Coin was just being duplicitous about wanting power for herself.)

Baldur's Gate residents:

Cazador is very wealthy, even by capitolite standards. Keeping with the THG books' notes about victors being forced into prostitution, he primarily uses this wealth to buy out victors with Gortash's permission, all the better if he can be the first. But no matter how many he takes, Astarion is his favorite.

Halsin's Drow captors, much the same as Cazador, love to buy out victors, and they took a liking to Halsin in particular. They were from Menzoberranzan, but happened to be in Baldur's Gate the day the first war was lost, forcing them to stay and adapt. They don't mind terribly, though.

Gortash is the Grand Duke after forcing the Ravengards to leave in effectively a coup. He let Zariel, who ruled the nearby nation of Avernus, draft Karlach as a soldier before letting her return to her district.

Orin is, of course, behind most of the murders in the city. After discovering Minthara's attempt to investigate a series of defectors from Menzoberranzan, she took her and kept her prisoner.

Menzoberranzan residents:

Minthara, of course, aspires to be the one in power, especially if they take over Baldur's Gate. She has an intense dislike, but begrudging respect, for her mother. However, her plans to take over are ended when she discovered a group of Drow defected from Menzoberranzan and into Baldur's Gate. She tracked them down and was captured by Orin.

District 1 (luxury goods) residents:

Astarion couldn't be from anywhere else but the luxury District. He volunteered for his Games, thinking a lifetime of riches would be well-worth a few weeks of suffering, not knowing that Cazador was part of the package. He regrets volunteering every day after, especially as Cazador paid extra to Gortash to not let doctors heal his scars.

District 2 (masonry and peacekeepers):

Lae'zel volunteered the first Reaping she was eligible, despite another Githyanki being the one meant to volunteer. She rubbed it in their faces when she won, being one of the only ones that young to ever win.

District 3 (technology):

Gale managed to win despite his orb by attuning its magical energies to the blast mines, wiping out everyone who was at the bloodbath (mostly the strongest ones left) when he was a safe distance away. The others, he killed with advanced magic. After winning, he is so overcome with shame that he locks himself away, letting only Tara see him.

District 4 (fishing):

Wyll used to be from Baldur's Gate until Gortash engineered an 'accident' (poisoning that left Ulder mentally unfit to rule) and then had him and his son 'sent to 4 to recover' (exiled). To show that he wasn't playing favorites, he added Wyll's name to the pool of possible Tributes. Without the finances they once had to be able to manage Ulder's condition, Wyll volunteered for the games to save his father's life. And then afterwards discovered a patron from Avernus willing to help in exchange for Wyll serving her army.

District 7 (lumber):

Halsin is miserable in a district that primarily exists to fell trees. Before being reaped into the games, he managed to get himself a job planting new trees- until he became big and strong enough that the higher-ups said he had no choice. Then he got reaped for the Games and won by using his bear form to, put bluntly, maul the shit out of everyone there, which made it one of the highest-rated Games ever, him an adored figure in the Capitol (catching the attention of a Drow noble couple), and leaving him trauma that still persists into his middle age.

Kiaran is a happy volunteer for his Games, finding that his Urge to murder is starting to overwhelm him, and fearing what will happen if he gets caught committing murder outside of the one place he's allowed to do it. He killed so many other Tributes, most notably Alfira, in such brutal ways that most of the footage from his Games is never allowed to be broadcast again without heavy editing. However, he starts trying to fight the impulses after, when he sees Halsin, who treated him warmly before the Games, become horrified at him.

District 8 (textiles)

Shadowheart was kidnapped from her parents, who were attempting to flee to another nation now that she was old enough to run, and turned over to the local orphanage while her parents were captured and tortured in Baldur's Gate. The orphanage had been taken over by undercover Sharrans, who used it as a scheme to indoctrinate new followers into their cult.

District 12 (mining)

Karlach grew up objectively better than most in 12, but still poorer than most of everyone else in the country. To help her parents, she took a bodyguard job Gortash posted, open to all but based in the city, not knowing this would get her drafted into serving Zariel.

[melkyt]

Writing a medieval Durge/Astarion au where Durge is a warlord who is gaining territory for his fathers kingdom.

Bhaal putting all his spawn to a contest for the throne. The one who can gain the most territory with their slaughter will inherit the throne.

Durge is obviously winning, with the largest ruled lands within the continent

Cazador is a lordling vamp that has a sizeable city he controls behind the scenes. When Durge sets his eyes on spreading his reach that far and the 'leaders' dont try to bargain but get ready for a siege. He invites Durge to negotiate.

Durge humors the man and goes to his mansion and is wholly unimpressed with anything the man has to offer and decides to kill them all before he leaves, then take the city.

Cazador, as a last-ditch attempt, offers one of his 'staff' as he puts it to Durge. He brings forth seven of them dressed in white and adorned in gold. They are all beautiful in their own way.

Durge at first does not give them a second look. He has no need for slaves but then curly white hair catches his eye. He agrees to march past the city in exchange for the elf.

When the city wakes, ready for battle, they find the army gone.

Durge throws a large amount of coin to buy a mansion to stay in as his base of operations. This city is the center of this area and it will be great to cordinate its conquest from within the walls

Cazador gives Astarion to seduce and kill the Bhaalspawn. The man is a danger to the entire land and, more importantly, Cazadors' plans.

Astarion knows he is just trading one Master for another and is thinking how to best spin the situation on their way to the mansion. He expects to be put in a cell or something worse. There are stories of how cruel the bhaalspawn is even among its siblings. The corpses he leaves are always horribly mutilated and those that survive with severe mental or physical damage.

So when they arrive and Durge leads him through the mansion, Astarion is ready to kill as soon as the guards leave them, and they do. He does not want to know what happens at the end of this path.

This attempt fails as the durge just stops him by catching his wrist. "You could not kill me even if I let you." It's a matter of fact statement. The gods would not allow his death.

Astarion knew it wouldn't be that easy, but he wanted to see the reaction. It's mild by all standards. He laughs it off, a slightly nervous tilt to his voice.

The durge kicks open the door. "This is your room. Throne Room and my quarters are off limits." He guides Astarion in eith a strong grip." The servants will give you anything you want." With that statement, Durge leaves a very dumbfounded vampire who expected something to happen. It's not a lavish room and free reign of the mansion for the most part.

So begins his adventure trying to seduce Durge, who is having none of it.

Durge is focused on the war effort but finds his eyes straying to that pale skin framed by white curls and those eyes that hide fear behind the flirting. Fear always fascinates him in those he kills, but this is different. Astarion is not quite afraid of him. There is someone he is afraid of more, and Durge decides that he will find out what or who inspires a bigger fear than him and kill it.

(Sidenote, I am giggling at the idea of Durge acting like he is the worst thing ever while giving Astarion room, board, and more kindness with his disinterest than anyone has in a long time. *and also lets Astarion drink his blood eventually*. Like durge boi, ur smitten not scary xd)

[agrazza]

can you describe what a jealous, pining, and in-love Astarion would be like if he and Tav for some reason hadn't yet gotten together by, say, act 3 and other companions were noticeably attempting to make moves on Tav, who is also in love with Asti but is (trying) to hide it? this could also be either before or after Caz :>

Ooh I have some ideas of *how* this could have happened, too, but I’ll stick to the bounds of your original ask below the cut haha.

It actually isn’t much of a stretch from TG canon that other companions were interested in TG. Without Astarion ‘in the way’ a few of them might have made a move. I could almost imagine several of them courting his attention for a little fun or stress relief; by Act 3, the party knows him well enough to think he isn’t relationship material (he made that clear early on, mostly because he was head over heels for Astarion and didn’t want to lead anyone else on, and now he’s stuck nursing what he thinks is unrequited love and with a reputation for preferring meaningless flings).

In the meantime, Astarion enjoys Tav's friendship immensely. At first, this seems like enough. They get along splendidly, and without the pressure for a physical relationship, he feels free and happy. Unfortunately, he also realizes that he genuinely enjoys Tav's company, and that the bard is, after all, very easy on the eyes, and oh no, what is this ache in his chest??? Naturally Astarion is irritated to realize that he’s fallen in love with the bard in spite of them deciding to be just friends, and has to watch TG respond to the others’ flirting— and maybe also occasionally watch him spend a night or two in someone else’s tent. TG is touch-starved, not handling the revelations of Act 3 very well, and a few companions might realize a little nighttime athletics ‘calms him down’, without passing the insight check (because TG makes it incredibly difficult) to see that TG is letting them use him out of a desire to be ‘good’ or ‘useful’ or to distract from the Urge. TG might turn especially to Halsin or Lae’zel, because they have a way of overwhelming him enough to make his thoughts quiet (he has a type lol) but definitely won’t be in love with him (he thinks).

Gale might also think he has another shot (as canonically he was, at one point, in love with him, even when Tav was clearly with Astarion). In this AU, he might start courting Tav in an attempt to win him over. TG probably wouldn’t notice it as romantic; he has no memory, nothing to compare it to, and no cultural knowledge of how courtship works.  Astarion, on the other hand, knows exactly what’s going on and fumes silently, but what right does he have to protest, when he and Tav so firmly decided they were just friends? Astarion's friendship with Gale definitely suffers, however.

It all comes to a head after Cazador. Freed from his own master, Astarion can finally see the cracks in Tav’s facade; he’s barely holding it together. In the canon run, Astarion was really a grounding foundation for Tav, someone he trusted with all his doubts and worries, and even when they weren’t having sex, he felt safe around Astarion, and could get the physical comfort he needed from more platonic intimacy with him, without feeling like he was taking advantage. Without that relationship, Tav would have spent Act 3 feeling much less secure, more prone to recklessness, and open to all kinds of unwise liaisons, including with NPCs, chasing that sense of security and trying to prove his own personhood to himself. (Astarion might spend a whole night pacing on the street outside of Sharess’ Caress, not willing to stop Tav from going, but definitely not willing to go far, in case he needed help, or got hurt. What if they don’t treat him right there? Someone should keep watch!)

Astarion gets snappish with the others-- especially anyone who's been flirty with TG-- which they assume is a result of him feeling unmoored after killing Caz and not ascending, but it’s really because he can’t stand the way they seem to take Tav’s attention for granted. Tav seems to be pulling away from him too, which makes him even more upset, but it’s because Tav is nursing his own ‘unrequited’ love and doesn’t want to slip up. (They killed Caz before Bhaal in this universe, because even though Astarion doesn't love him, Tav thinks, he wants to make sure Astarion is free, even if Tav dies in his fight with Orin.)

Then Tav dies in the Bhaal temple, and gets resurrected to Astarion’s teary expression, incredibly lame attempt at calling the whole event ‘twee’ even though he has tear-tracks down his face and was definitely clutching Tav’s body when he woke up, and then Astarion gives in and kisses him right there on the floor of the murder temple and declares that if Tav’s not going to take better care of himself, Astarion will do it for him, you horrible cretin!

(Tav’s free of his father *and* gets a new boyfriend, and he can’t stop smiling for a tenday.)

[kalmiaphlox]

Masterlist

Kalmiaphlox - Ao3

i am here for Astarion, and Astarion only. I lub him.

My Works:

I'm Better Now, I Know My Faults (Completed) - Masterlist / Ao3 - Dadstarion post game journey of finding love and family when all feels lost.

Till Lies Break Our Hearts (Ongoing) - Masterlist / Ao3 - Arranged Marriage AU set before the events of Baldur's Gate. Can Astarion win the hearts of his new wife and her family so they might save him from Cazador's iron grip?

Fic Recs:

Completed Fic Recs

[converse-luke]

Hey fellow Astarion whump writers fun ideas for you to consider:

1. Spawn Astarion being forced to drink holy water

Next one is also a treat for the bloodweave writers bc I’m obsessed with it.

2. Astarion being so hungry he drinks from Gale, knowing he tastes awful, and continuing to drink anyways from how much he needs blood.

[swordmaid]

which is also why I think - in a vengeance shri’iia au where she ends up as astarion’s spawn and he inevitably gets tired of her bc he has all the power in the world and he can have anything and anyone he wants and everything is his for the taking - when she inevitably turns from his ‘eternal lover’ to just his ‘first spawn’ - she will be sooo amy gone girl about it.

like she’s devoting her oath and her entire life to him, he doesn’t get to change that. he’s not allowed to change even. she will do everything in her power and she will even set fire to them both if he tried to change. like he’s making a mistake that she’s rectifying! she lives to serve, and if he doesn’t want her servitude that means there’s something that’s not right and she will personally correct that. like he doesn’t need to worry about anything ofc - worrying doesn’t look good on him let her fix what needs to be fixed. she is such a good lover after all. it doesn’t compute to her that she’s going to be replaced. like it literally doesn’t make sense, not when he promised her eternity. so when he starts looking at someone else, when he starts to favor someone else and lavish them with his attentions and praise she will get rid of them because he’s getting distracted! and he doesn’t need distractions! and when he gets mad at her she will forgive his transgressions and soothe that anger away - he doesn’t need anymore wrinkles. and she will know about every little lie he says and hold them close to her chest then recite it back to him when she gets rid of another one of his new favourites. and when he tries to kill her she’ll do the same thinking it’s some game or courtship - this is how it was back in menzoberranzan after all! the fact that he was willing to learn her traditional courtship is so sweet 🥰. and maybe she’ll scare him even, so he can learn what fear is again. it’s a good kind of fear bc she’s showing what kind of person she could be so it would be dumb of him to throw her away.

but the thing is! she’s operating out of love and devotion! and they have eternity together! and there’s something sooo sicko yes about how ascended astarion’s first spawn - his first creation - being something that he will eventually resent and fears. bc it would be so much easier if she hated him like how he hated cazador. but she doesn’t. she’s deranged and in love and so obsessive about that love to the point where it literally can not be changed - and he can’t change it or manipulate it. what was once useful to him became a detriment. their love turning so sick and rotten, like a leftover apple, and she becomes a nuisance that he can’t get rid of, and he’s stuck with that nuisance for eternity. he eventually realises what a mistake it was seducing her back then when they had those tadpoles in their heads, when they had that strange freedom. like if he knew things would turn out like this, and she was actually this kind of person, maybe he would’ve done things differently but instead he’s stuck with her for eternity.

and I do think he’ll try to kill her lmfao I mean he’s a vampire lord and she’s just a fucking spawn so he’ll get rid of her once he gets bored and annoyed, but she thinks it’s some game between them so she’ll try to get him too - not kill him ofc but just close enough to scare him and remind him that she does bite even before the vampire teeth. I mean before him, she was literally a drow high priestess’/matron mother’s trained hound.

anyway I really love the idea of them being miserable with each other lmfaoo and I think she will be so miserable as a spawn actually and the moment when she potentially gets replaced something is gonna break inside of her bc it’ll just like before when she broke her oath. but she won’t be that bewildered and confused girl again, nope. she’s not going to accept it this time, she refuses! she doesn’t get to be the only miserable one, he doesn’t get to win..!!!

[maruichio]

Little Random Imagine

Ok, so I got dragged into the Astarion obsession and I can’t seem to get out (guys he lives rent free in my head help-) and started to come up with scenarios. I don’t if it’s just me but I love Sports AUs. Maybe it’s because I was on a team in highschool, but I love them. But like. Imagine Astarion on a sports team (I think he would do like fencing or volleyball) and your Tav would be on another sports team in the school or from another rival school. The potential my dudes! I came up with something inspired by my OC that I ship with Astarion. Be free to insert you Tav if you would like.

• Start of the tournament is today and everyone is a little stressed. But of course not Astarion. Why should he? He was the star setter, known for his clever plays and unexpected setter dumps that get the blockers fuming.

• Why would he be freaking out that this was a chance to show off his skills? That he didn’t get on the team because of connections but that he earned this spot? That he didn’t need to use underhanded methods to win?

• That if they did well this first game they would keep advancing? That he could show his old coach he wasn’t a pawn to shove around and use?

• That if Astarion’s team won these two games they would most likely end up facing against his old team?

• Astarion would eventually have to face his old abusive coach Cazador and his old teammates. He would show Cazador he was better off without him.

• Of course Astarion wasn’t nervous.

• He was brought out of his thoughts when he spies his favorite little basketball player along with the others from her team.

• “Well, if it is not our darling Tav. Come to watch me play did you?”

• “Shadowheart and Lae’zel got into another fight over who would get the ball and Karlach accidentally broke the rim when making a slam dunk. Coach decided it would be better if practice ended early.”

• Karlach informed them she would be the loudest one on the bleachers cheering for them. Shadowheart wished them to do their best. Lae’zel glared, saying if they lost it would be an embarrassment to the school.

• Gale said that their words of encouragement are all greatly appreciated.

• Astarion looked over to Tav. “And what about you, Darling? You have yet to give any inspiring words to spur us on to victory. Or you could at least give me a good luck charm.” He taps his cheek and turns it toward her, giving a teasing smile.

• Tav just tilts her head, confused.

• “Why would I give you a good luck charm?”

• And Astarion laughs it off, assuring it’s just a joke. He knows she didn’t mean for the comment to come off as rude, but the refusal still stung. They only had just become friends after all. He couldn’t expect them to be close despite the amount of time they spent together.

• But Tav wasn’t finished speaking. “I mean, luck doesn’t really exist. And even if it did, you would be the last person that needs it.”

•She remembers how she first saw Astarion, surrounded by fans fawning for his attention. Seemingly arrogant and full of himself. He was someone Tav thought she would never interact with.

•Then she saw him play. She saw how he became fully immersed in the game, watching the ball with a hunger and ready to strike.

•While staying late to clean up the gym, she caught him practicing alone. Perfecting his sets to make sure each one was accurate for Halsin and Wyll to spike. Countless hours spent to make sure his jump serve would be impossible to return.

•Tav leaves a water bottle for him and goes back to cleaning.

•A week later she tosses balls for him to set. He in turn helps her with her layups. They end up talking outside of their practices, and they end up forming a hesitant friendship.

• “You have practiced harder than anyone I’ve seen. I have watched you toss that volleyball for hours on end. If anyone deserves to be on that court, it’s you. No doubt about it. And when you win, because you guys will win this game, and the next, I’ll be standing in the bleachers right next to Karlach applauding your victory.”

• Tav then reaches for her ponytail and slips off her hairtie. She holds out her hand, silently asking for Astarion’s arm.

•He wordlessly lays it against her palms.

•”But since you asked,” She slips her hairtie onto his wrist. “Here. Not a charm, but a reminder, that you are an amazing player. And no one is allowed to say otherwise.” She gives a warm grin, rare for her to do, and the erratic thumping of Astarion’s heart slowed, calmed by the assurance her words gave him.

• The girls then leave for the gym. But Astarion is stuck in place, staring at his left wrist. Years of blood and tears spent into this sport, of being told he was lucky to even be touching the ball, of showing everyone that what he lacked in natural talent he more than made up for it with hard work- He hid the struggles behind a mask, the walls he built to hide the cracks his false confidence held together.

• And then this seemingly unimportant stranger comes along with her straightforward sincerity to start knocking those walls down. She saw through his mask of bravado, recognized all the hard work he had done. He felt seen.

• The purple band around his wrist was a stark contrast to his pale skin, Tav’s scent faintly clinging to the gift. His heart started pounding again, but not because of nerves. Oh dear. He is in trouble.

• His team was also shocked with what transpired. The silence being broken by Wyll.

• “You are one lucky bastard.”

~Bonus~

• While watching the team warmup, Tav thought back to the earlier exchange, thinking how cute Astarion was to ask for a charm. Though she still wondered why he tapped his cheek and expressed her confusion to her friends.

• Lae’zel just sighed and shook her head while Karlach laughed at Tav’s obliviousness. Shadowheart decided to take pity on her friend and leaned over, explaining to Tav what kind of “good luck charm” Astarion was actually asking for.

• “Oh. That’s what he meant?”

• Karlach laughed even harder while Shadowheart chuckled at Tav’s cluelessness.

• Turning her attention back to the team she happened to lock eyes with Astarion.

• He lifted up his arm, proudly showing off the purple hairtie on his wrist, and gave a flirtatious wink to her before turning around and getting ready for the game.

• She could feel he ears getting warm, and her heart started to pick up in pace. Tav knew it wasn’t from the anticipation of the game ahead.

•She was in trouble.

It is so late and I have class in a few hours why did I do this to myself why won’t this man let me SLEEP-

[converse-luke]

Reopened my Cazador wins au and realized I get to write grief fueled Gale having his audience with Mystra which means there’s no one to convince him away from the crown. Like he’d only want it more if he could use it to bring Astarion back.

Oh and I get to write post resurrection boat scene which is going to hurt in a good way.

[converse-luke]

Wrote this tiny scene in my bloodweave Cazador wins au where Astarion starts appearing in Gale’s dreams while trapped in Cania trying to convince him he’s real and that he needs help. Gale of course can always tell when he’s dreaming and doesn’t believe him, thinking he’s just another part of the dream/nightmare.

Love the idea and the angst opportunity but I can’t make it work in the fic. Maybe in a different fic it could work. That might actually be a good idea