#my tav's are all in a relationship with Astarion

[honeysulani]

I have to play Astarion's origin if I want to finally romance Gale🥹

[myrkulitescourge]

the way that one line from the new epilogue in an astarion romance is going to HAUNT me

just. what a profoundly intense thing to confess to someone.

like, just these six months of newfound happiness with you exerts a force on his heart equal and in direct opposition to two centuries of endless torment, the gnawing hunger and exploitation. this flashbulb-bright fraction of his long life holds the same gravity to him as years upon years of darkness and suffering.

in all likelihood, he hasn’t even known his lover for as long as his worst memory lasted, that year sealed away to go mad from starvation and sensory deprivation, yet he still tells them this brief time has been so fundamentally and powerfully important that the weight of even that unimaginable hell is vanishingly small compared to this present he has now and the future ahead of them both.

how am i supposed to act normal about this.

[catsharky]

Yeah I was right and there was no way I was getting the rest of this done without making you all wait another month or two, so I just went to the next good break point. We're officially past the halfway point with Astarion though, so not too much longer before you actually get to see Rolan again!

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Full page format under the cut:

[abyssalaerlocke]

New Post-game HCs

Wyll, Shadowheart, and Halsin build their sanctuary, adopting all the animals and kids their hearts desire

Lae'zel and Karlach cutting through Avernus together, until they get Karlach's engine fixed. Then Karlach showing Lae'zel Faerûn, or they turn to the astral plane and overthrowing Vlaakith

Minthara and Durge (who's probably a mind-flayer) go to the Underdark together.

Gale and Astarion find and lead the spawn in the Underdark, probably some queerplatonic dynamic with durgethara

[halamshirals]

did you guys know that, well, the cruelty is the point

[rackartyg]

hmm i don't think the nuances of astarion's reaction to araj is to do with him finding romanticisation of his vampirism specifically to be distasteful so much as, like, she's objectifying him and that's what he doesn't like (but instead of sex, it's based on his vampirism). something something there's a difference between strangers and someone you trust something

[trevisos]

i’m going to be a hater again for like 20 seconds. about astarion. as per usual.

why do ppl insist on reading (spawn and/or pre-ritual) astarion as possessive of his partner? why do we Want him to have that trait? what is the point. why r we trying to make him possessive and protective when he’s like… not? ascended!astarion is right there u can literally have this if u want it! u don’t need to ascribe it to spawn!astarion when it’s not there. there is Literally A Version Of Events Where It Is True

[fangsandfeels]

Going through all the ascended Astarion stories, where Tav either breaks up with him and reconnects years later, bringing the messiest “divorced couple” vibe along, or becomes his spawn and ends up being completely miserable and at the complete mercy of the vampire lord, I got a vision.

(Short outline: spawn!Tav goes to Avernus to avoid being trapped in a relationship, badassery, horrors, and deep existential issues ensue. Full description of the cringe can be found below)

- Tav agrees to be turned into Spawn by Astarion, ignoring the red flags because they really wanted to believe him and didn’t want to leave him alone. However, after they do, they get slapped with way too many red flags in the face (the “as long as you remember who you belong to” phrase during the second encounter with Araj, the command to shut up after mentioning Cazador’s name, the deceptive reasoning behind why he isn’t making them a full vampire), Tav grows very aware of eternity that awaits them after they defeat the Netherbrain. And it terrifies them. They understand that they don't want to find out what being his consort means. They are no longer sure about anything.

- When Karlach starts burning, Tav talks her out of it and jumps on the opportunity to go to Avernus with her  (and Wyll), before Astarion gets to react and use compulsion on them. They aren't sure it would work, but it does. Small mercies.

- Between fighting off Zariel’s hordes and getting used to their new condition, Tav goes through heartbreak, oscillating between being angry with Astarion to missing him to feeling sorry for themselves. It's a cycle of angst and mental gymnastics, interrupted by battles and stirring trouble in the Hells.

- Ultimately, Tav reflects on the choices and actions that led them to this path. And when they find a way to fix Karlach’s heart, making it possible for her to go to Faerun for good, Tav chooses to stay in the Hells. Not even because they aren’t eager to confront Astarion and get controlled by him, but because they feel they belong there. Cazador might have planned the ritual, and Astarion might have completed it, but it was them who helped him do it -- they can be angry at Astarion all they want, they can tell themselves it's no longer him. They can spend years guessing whether he really wanted it, whether he is happy or not right now. Maybe they did fail him. It all doesn’t matter. They are as guilty for condemning these souls to suffering in the Hells. So, the question is: what will they do about that?

- Basically, a story that doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with Astarion, and is mostly focused on a vampire spawn Tav, who navigates hellish landscapes, occasionally helping whatever poor souls they can, learning sad stories of victims who got lured into horrible deals, musing on existential questions and wondering how should they take their life when their luck runs out on them, and they get captured by Archdevils.

- While they avoid signing any contracts or any deals and focus on honing their skills and new vampiric abilities, they do seek ways to modify their body, so they could increase their chances for survival (yes, I freaking love Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, how can you tell?).

- For an extra Divine Comedy (and angsty) flavor, Tav talks to an imaginary Astarion (the one they remember so fondly before his Ascension) -- the habit that started from a random “what the Astarion I knew would have said about this?” thought and kinda became a way to stay sane in this place.

[birb--birb]

What kind of love are you?

Violet: Love as a Threshold

Your love does not ask for much. Your love does not take. Your love is free, and unquestioned, and here for wherever needs it. When you fall in love, it is as gentle as a breath in the night. It is quiet, and it is effortless. It is tender. If your love was a house, it would readily welcome all who come through. If your love was a hearth, it would warm the hands of whoever stopped by, whether for a day, a month, a year, or forever. When you fall for someone, it is without strings, without conditions, without need. You love for the sake of loving, for the sake of caring for those who need it. You love with a giver’s heart and a giver’s hands and are made so much stronger for it. Being loved by you is to always feel at home. Your love may not always be well-received by those unprepared to linger, but it is unforgettable all the same

The second I saw this answer for Violet I knew it was perfect. Their entire romance with Astarion was about patience. Waiting for him to realize that he's truly safe with them, that they doesn't expect anything from him, that he is in the lead here and they'll follow only when he's ready and okay. And waiting without judgement, Violet knows these things take time and they were more than willing to wait, to be there, to just sit and exist with him while he figures shit out. And when he truly let Violet in, I like to think it was like with a comforting sigh, the feeling of coming home, that feeling when all pressure is lifted and you can just *exist* without fear, without judgement.

Violet has seen violence and hatred and yet chooses to show up for those they love as a place of calm and stability, without judgement, without expectations. Violet's love is patient, it doesn't expect anything back but will give you everything just because we all deserve to feel warmth and safety. They feel so much warmth in their heart that they were able to help Astarion get to a place where he feels safe. I think even if they didn't fall in love or end up together, Violet would have still shown up for him in the same way. They know what suffering is like, they've gone through enough of it themselves and come out the other end alive. They know how much it hurts, but also how much easier it is with someone to lean on.

tagged by @cleric4vampire ty for enabling so many feelies about my bbys

Tagging: @justabiteofspite and @dragon--sage (I know yall were already tagged but doing so again for funzies cause I'd love to hear about your Tavs/Durges) and anyone who wants to join in, please do!!

[3gremlins]

i like how all the guides are like "noble/soldier" are the best backgrounds for a paladin and I'm like, shut your faces, kier's (they/he) bg is URCHIN which means they look out for kids/the downtrodden and have bonuses to sleight of hand checks. also they're a drow so you know that was an extra rough childhood. like i rented rooms in the elfsong just for fun and he got inspiration by like just having a real place to stay that wasn't the ground T.T it was neat that the camp moved indoors (including scratch and the owlbear lol, hopefully the inkeepers don't mind owlbear pellets lol)

anyway i really like a character choosing to be a paladin after having a harsh life, you know? it feels more earned than if they grew up in the lap of luxury (noble) or even if they're just a dutiful soldier following orders (*obvs* soldiers can have harsh lives too but the vibe is different). i like that there's so many lost kids in this game you can help too (i realize the guides are just like "oh this bg gives you helpful bonuses" but i think it's more fun to play against type sometimes)

[bear-durs-gate]

Fandom: Baldur’s Gate 3

Pairing: pre relationship fem!tav x astarion

Rating: M (to be safe since vampirism I guess)

Word count: 1,615

AO3

She dreamt. Dreamt of being in a boat out at sea, floating on silver waves in moonlight with nothing but wind at her back and stars in her hair. The crashing of waves tossed her to and fro but there was a sense of freedom. Of peace. But somewhere from above and below and behind her, she felt it. Eyes watching her. Breath, hot on her neck. Fear prickled and nipped at her nape, nudging her awake.

She jolted upright and nearly smacked heads with Astarion.

“…shit,” he muttered.

“Fucking hell!” She yelped and caught sight of him, teeth bared and recoiling while looking—what—like a school boy in trouble? Beautiful idiot vampire. Surely the guilty act was just a performance though. Hell, she’d play a part if she was caught doing such a silly thing. She hopped to her feet and he backed further away.

“No, no. It’s not what it looks like, I swear!”

She almost laughed. Was he frightened? Of her? When he’s the one with sanguine sucking chompers? “Oh, so you weren’t hovering over me with fangs bared to take a bite? Just having a sniff were you?”

“I wasn’t going to hurt you!” he continued, a bit breathy, “I just needed—well, blood.”

“Ah, yes, the old I wasn’t going to hurt you, just puncture your flesh and take a little sip line. I’ve never heard that one before.” She blinked with lifted brows. “My apologies for such an absurd assumption.” She smirked. “Besides, it’s glaringly obvious now that you need blood. It’s all making perfect sense now. Explains why you’ve been so incredibly slow.”

“Hey, now. I’m not that slow.” His features shifted from fake fear to frowning. “But you’re right. I am in need. I feed on animals but it’s not enough. Not if I have to fight. I feel so weak.” He threw her a look that was probably meant for her to have pity. But all she felt was certain other things. Things she had no business feeling. “If I had just a little blood I could think clearer. Fight better. Please.”

It was cute the way he pleaded. She liked him like that, begging. She wanted to make him do a little more. How far would he be willing to go for her blood. Probably not far seeing as there was a camp full of sleeping possible participants. And he was just about to bite into her if she hadn’t woken up, but living in a bubble of a delectable fantasy seemed rather harmless for a moment.

She cut it off before it really began however. She needed to focus. He didn’t need to catch wind of her base desires. So, she’d put on her own show.

“Bravo. I would clap for you if I could, you always perform so elegantly but you know, I’d rather not wake the others with the encore. My dear boy, I would gladly say yes but I need you to know something first.”

“Yes, go on.”

“I must tell you—if you ever fucking stand over me like that again and wake me from my pleasant dreams with such a frightening stance—breathing on my neck like some spectral from the depths of my deepest nightmares—oh! There will be words—words to be had. A great deal of words. So many words, you will regret you have ears and be begging for someone, anyone—except for me because I refuse to dirty my hands with such grotesque tasks you see—to be chopping them clean off! And I promise you, such an exchange will be utter torment for you and not the pleasurable kind either.”

Astarion shifted from slightly concerned to amused to almost baffled. “So, you aren’t angry?”

“I’m angry that you didn’t just commit to the bit. A scary vampire needs blood to be strong and you’re always judging my choices but then you hesitated? If you wanted to make an ordeal of it, you could’ve sent me an invitation or something, allow me to improv if you needed a flair of dramatics. Give me time to memorize my proper lines. My heavens good boy, I was having the most pleasant of dreams and you had to go and ruin it—making it nightmarish because you could not simply take the bite. Hovering—ugh.” She shuttered. “I do not frighten easy, mind you. And angry is really the wrong word actually—disappointed is more suitable. Yes—very disappointed.”

“Are you saying I can have a taste? I got a bit lost halfway through your speech.”

“Yes.”

He smirked. “And here I thought I would need to be a little more convincing.” His face fell. “I even had a whole speech of my own prepared.”

“Of course you did.” Tav shook her head. “My apologies for disrupting the scenario you had rehearsed in your head but if you just asked me sooner then this could’ve played out exactly as you wanted. But no, you had to do it the hard way.”

“At best I thought you’d say no. More likely you’d ram a stake through my ribs.” He grew more serious as Tav folded her arms across her chest. “I needed you to trust me—and you can trust me.”

“Bullshit.” She unfolded her arms and wagged a finger at him. “I’ll stop you right there. Someone who wants trust doesn’t slink around in the dead of night trying to bite the ones they want to trust them. Come now, my dear boy, we both know this is a matter of you being caught and your words, oh they are very pretty, but unnecessary. Besides, I trust you. About as far as I can throw you.”

He looked her up and down, a smirk pulling at his lips. “I’d say you could throw me quite far.”

“Probably. We could test it out tomorrow.”

“I’d really rather not but thank you. For the trust that is. And I only need a little taste. I swear.”

“A taste—a sample? A taste and how long will that last? No, no, that will not suffice. Feast my boy and recover your strength—though I do ask that you spare me, as you are well aware that I am the most elite performer and we can’t be burdening the others with walking my carcass about, puppeteering and propping me up until we happen across a goodly necromancer now can we?” She raised her brow. “No, we can’t. Or can we? Hmm.” She tapped her chin. “Let’s roll on it shall we?”

She pulled a die from her pocket and tossed it on the ground. A solid one out of twenty. Her fate was sealed for the night. Astarion seemed very amused.

“Well—I suppose you could ask Withers to revive me or use one of Gale’s fancy little scrolls. Though, I do wonder how that will affect my skills—surely there’s some unnamed consequence for an impromptu revival and I do wonder what that might be, hmm. No matter! So long as I can talk, I can do what I must, so if you need my blood to optimize your performance, then my dear boy, you shall have it!” Tavelia tugged on his sleeve. “Now, get to it so I can get back to my dreams and we can carry on same as always—but different because you’ll be stronger and not so painstakingly slow, yes?”

Astarion hesitated. “Really? If you’re sure…”

“We are all consenting adults here. Unless you’ve changed your mind? Does one of our other campmates look tastier? Please say, ‘no, you’re blood is the most compelling. Smells like a finely preserved cheese only to be brought out and paired with the most expensive wine. In fact, you are so special, that I simply had to hover over you particularly just to have a taste. You were simply irresistible.’”

“Well, I wouldn’t have stated it quite like that. So, desperate.” Astarion smiled coyly then raised a brow. “And cheese? I don’t think I’ve ever compared blood to cheese. What a peculiar choice.”

“It’s improv, my good chap. Now let’s get to it, shall we? Don’t be shy.” She gestured to him, coaxing him to come closer. She even turned her neck, tilting slightly while brushing all of her pastel rainbow strands out of the way.

“You are making it weird.”

“Nothing is worth anything if it’s not at least a little weird.”

He shook his head. “Let's make ourselves comfortable, shall we?” He gestured to the bedroll.

Tav situated herself, lying on her back while reaching for her die and pocketing it. “I am as comfortable as I’ll ever be with a shred of fabric between me and the rock hard ground. So I’m ready when you are.”

She’d expected the pain and honestly she’d expected the stupid butterflies that fluttered throughout her stomach but she hadn’t expected to let out the most embarrassing moan. Desperate indeed.

“Oh, sorry,” she muttered but Astarion didn’t seem to notice or care as the blood flowed from her body. Astarion seemed wholly invested in draining her completely but at least he was being gentle about it. Cradling her head as he just kept drinking. And drinking some more.

He drank so much that she started to drift; dizzy and light drifting further into the numbing cold, darkness of night. She closed her eyes, holding back another idiotic moan. Concentrated on the way her extremities went from chilly to nonexistent at all. Maybe he was sending her back to the lovely little boat dream.

Yes, she was floating. Rocking. She was free.

At peace.

She was.

And then she was not.

[nucleqr]

the vibes in this room...

[judasiskariot]

Everyone else in their 30s wishing sometimes, that they are still living alone and got their apartment for themselves?

So that you can run free all of your current hyper fixations unjudged and put up all the merchandise however you want? So that your fiancé only visits you on the weekend and you can decorate however you want? Can hang all the fanart on the walls?

No one? Yes, me neither haha 😅😅😅 I'm normal too hahaha 😅😅

[stranger2time]

Sevryn's senses are full.

The smell of tobacco and rosemary mix in his nose, accompanied by wood smoke and freshly turned earth. His ears take in the sound of the crackling fire, the wind in the trees, and Astarion's voice as he chats with Halsin. The voices fill the small pocket of air between the three's bodies, low and light. The weight of Astarion, pressed against his side, is grounding, and the places where Halsin's legs touch the back of his tingle with warmth. The taste of smoke on his tongue blends with wine and fills him with the heady sense of comfort. The fire light plays over his lovers' faces, pale and red-eyed, tan and scarred.

He drinks it all in... and is content.

[lixbf]

sometimes i feel like my bg3 save is sorta messed up bc like i think technically my tav is w halsin too but theres no options when talking to him for like breaking up and all that and now i slept w mizora as like an experiment or smth and wyll said smth abt "our happily ever after wasn't meant to be" like huh??? i thought that after that one kiss after dancing they had like mutually decided to just be besties bc wyll isnt into being poly and no way in hell am i gonna end things w astarion for anyone

[tombware]

seeing like a mini debate about ast*rion vs daer*n ar*ndae in regards of quality and i might be specifically seeing only one sides opinion because. i do not think Mr. D is more compelling. ultimately i think theyre quite different as well so idfk