#sunlit spawn

[thatcerealkiller]

Remembering when you could feel the sun on your back…

@kasumitanart showing Astarion & Angelus enjoying some time away from camp, thank you for the beautiful art of these guys ✨💖✨

Alt version without blanket on twitter 🔥

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from the Las Vegas Sun:

A population spurt for the Devils Hole pupfish, a critically endangered fish at Death Valley National Park, is giving scientists cause for optimism, the National Park Service said.

Scientists from the park service, the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counted 191 pupfish at Devils Hole over the course of their spring study April 5 and 6, officials said. That marks a 25-year high, they said.

“Increasing numbers allow the managing agencies to consider research that may not have been possible in the past, when even slight perturbations of habitat or fish had to be completely avoided,” said Michael Schwemm, senior fish biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We’re excited about the future directions with respect to managing this species.”

Many pairs of the fish were found courting and spawning in their 92-degree habitat, officials said.

The species fully resides in Devils Hole, a water-filled cavern near Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Nye County. Officials say Devils Hole is the smallest habitat of any vertebrate species on the planet.

The fish are found in the upper 80 feet of the cave and depend on an 11-by-16-foot sunlit shallow shelf at the cavern’s entrance for food and spawning, officials said.

Historically, the pupfish’s population ranges between 100 to 200 in winter and 300 to 500 in late summer — an all-time low of 35 fish was recorded in 2013.

The tiny fish, averaging less than 1 inch in length, lived in relative isolation for between 10,000 and 20,000 years after periods of flooding and dryness created the cavern they call home, the park service said.

Flooding last summer from Hurricane Hilary was a benefit to the fish’s ecosystem, officials said, because it added nutrients that washed off the surrounding land surface in a fine layer of clay and silt.

[littlebabyself]

Alastor ((hazbin hotel)) cg headcannons!!

was watching the show and got super small and imagined him as my cg, so here’s my cringe headcannons!!

• protective

• always holding his little one

• dreadful at arts and crafts

• loves to sing his little one old timey lullabies

• covers his littles eyes when in public ((to shield from anything triggering))

• let’s them touch his hair and antlers

• husk is the only one he semi-trusts to babysit. Only for emergencies though.

• tries not to spoil his little but sometimes fails

• reads them lots of picture books

• brings them on a lot of adventures like stealing, spying, etc.

• calls his baby things like doe, fawn, trouble maker, hell spawn ((in the best way possible)), silly one, starlight, darling, dearest, etc.

• always feels bad his little one is in hell and believes that they’re his little angel.

• keeps all his littles drawings and hangs them up in the hotel lobby and in his radio tower

•literally makes the best food. great cook

•always stays until the small one falls asleep

• let’s his little stay up late on his lap while he works, although they usually get sleepy around 10 anyways

• he loves to baby his little when they’re alone

• let’s charlie make them custom deco pacis

• has the best music taste

• keeps his littles toys very organized

• makes bath time super fun with toys, bubbles, scrubs, and perfect Water

• does lots of yoga with them

• LOVES to baby them no matter what age they feel

• basically nocturnal

______________________________________________

“hello dearest, come sit on my lap and I’ll comb your hair sweetheart”

“shhh, shhhh… ah, ah, ah, it’s okay little one, no one will hurt you.” “Days seem sometimes as if they'll never enddd… Sun digs its heels to taunt you~ But after sunlit days, one thing stays the same Rises the moon”

“come to dada starlight, we’ll have a snack, small one. “

______________________________________________ that’s all I’ve got for now!! remember I have requests open!!! thanks so much guys ^^

[iamjucie]

Astarion the Musical

Today, I spent several hours creating a playlist that tells Astarion's story (a version of it) through songs. I want to share the playlist with you, along with this post as a companion to describe the context.

In my mind it plays out like a musical would- context and dialogue happening between musical numbers. I hope you enjoy.

Song explanations:

The Code: Post game Astarion introducing his story to the audience. A synopsis of his story from the POV of the person who lived through it. 

"I, I went to Hell and back To find myself on track I broke the code, whoa-oh-oh Like ammonites I just gave it some time Now I found paradise I broke the code, whoa-oh-oh"

The story starts when he is attacked by the Gur and is approached by Cazador.

The Killing Moon: Cazador turns him into his spawn.

"Under blue moon I saw you So soon you'll take me Up in your arms, too late to beg you Or cancel it, though I know it must be The killing time Unwillingly mine Fate Up against your will Through the thick and thin He will wait until You give yourself to him"

Dead Arms & Dead Legs: After he has turned, coming to terms with his new undead self. 

"I have been out walking with these Dead Arms & Dead Legs And the mysteries of the universe are patterned in my head The terrain becomes unbearable - too steep to stick your heel I imagine myself here again in 50 million years I run to the left... I run to the right And all my fears become a life And what is left... and who are you in the end?"

Queer: He is seducing victims and luring them to Cazador using his body and charm.

"Hey boy, take a look at me Let me dirty up your mind I'll strip away your hard veneer And see what I can find The queerest of the queer The strangest of the strange The coldest of the cool The lamest of the lame The numbest of the dumb I hate to see you here You choke behind a smile A fake behind the fear The queerest of the queer"

The Dead Come Talking: Feeling guilt about the victims he led to death. He can't seem to forget them.

"Feel the worms eating holes through my mind Like regrets that'll kill me in time Walking backwards is always a guess Distant faces burn holes in my chest, mm-mm, mm-mm Shadows floating, they're out in the hall They still haunt you long after they're gone Buried in the basement, cold cement Dead come talking, can't put them to rest"

rises the moon: Montage of his life as a slave under Cazador, time passes and his hope for an escape becomes less and less. 

"Days seem sometimes as if they'll never end Sun digs its heels to taunt you But after sunlit days, one thing stays the same Rises the moon Days fade into a watercolour blur Memories swim and haunt you But look into the lake, shimmering like smoke Rises the moon"

Abbey: He is out in the city hunting, daydreaming of freedom. 

"There is a light, I feel it in me But only, it seems, when the dark surrounds me There is a dream and it sleeps in me Keeps me awake in the night Crying, "Set me free" And I wake every night Crying, "Set me free" "

Kidnapped by the Nautiloid.  Nautiloid crashes. 

Hand Me My Shovel, I’m Going In!: He wakes up at the crash site and is freaking out. He is in the sun, and not burnt to ash.

"This is not enough, this is not enough to prove it yet No, I need to hit the bottom This is not enough, this is not enough to prove it yet No, I need to hit the bottom Gotta get to the bottom of this Gotta get to the bottom of this Gotta get to the bottom of this"

Meet Tav.

Survival: He realizes he has an actual chance at freedom now that he met Tav.

"You won't pull ahead I'll keep up the pace And I'll reveal my strength To the whole human race Yes, I am prepared To stay alive I won't forgive, the vengeance is mine And I won't give in Because I choose to thrive Yeah, I'm gonna win!"

Biting Down: Drinks Tav’s blood for the first time. His first time drinking blood from a thinking creature and he realizes why it was kept from him. He feels alive. He feels powerful.

"Skip a hit, don't make a sound (It feels better biting down) Breathed so deep I thought I'd drown (It feels better biting down) Listen to the beats resound (It feels better biting down) It feels better biting down (It feels better biting down)"

Little White Lies: Gaining Tav’s trust, making her fall in love with him for protection.

"Would you leave me for dead, or would you come to my aid? If I don't tell you some pretty words Should it keep you coming my way I never meant to lie, but there are things we do and say to get by Little white lies, a small surprise, how big they grow in size It all starts simple enough Your present is dark because your childhood was rough So you shed your skin and you change your name in the hopes of Putting air in between you and the pain, so grab a mask Fill up a flask, slither like a snake into the mascaraed"

Terrible Thing: Seduces Tav enough for her to sleep with him.

"I know what you're doin' here Made your intentions clear Oh you, you terrible thing, you Terrible thing, you Terrible thing, you Beautiful thing Honey, you're so cold You left me on patrol Lose my self-control with you (when I'm with you) Do things I don't want to do, ooh"

Laplace’s Angel (Hurt People? Hurt People!): Feelings for Tav are growing, and the guilt of manipulating her is starting to get to him so he tries to justify his actions.

"It doesn't take a killer to murder It only takes a reason to kill We've all got evidence of innocence, it's "everything's coincidence" The difference twixt fate and free will is whether you're singing Ooh, could you take a look at me? Am I bad, am I bad, am I bad, am I really that bad? And now we're singing, ooh Whatever you think of me If you were in my shoes (yes, it's only natural!) You'd walk the same damn miles I do Oh, oh, right!"

Gilded Lily: After Tav does not force him to drink Araj’s blood. He is processing his trauma. He realizes that Tav cares for him more than anyone ever has.

"Haven't I given enough, given enough? Always the fool with the slowest heart But I know you'll take me with you We'll live in spaces between walls Every city's got a graveyard The service bought and paid for Now I'm sleeping in the backyard Passing out as night turns into day"

Against the Kitchen Floor: He confesses to Tav that he was originally manipulating her but now has genuine feelings for her. He has never known the feeling of somebody wanting him for more than his body and he doesn't know how to handle it well.

"I don't owe you my heart And I don't owe you my body But you should know that I'm sorry For being careless with you Lord knows I owe you more Than I'm pretty sure I ever could give anybody But I can't pin down what normal people want from foreign objects Bottom shelf erotic products like me So, I could hold your hand but keep you at arm's length Or hang me from a branch too high to climb and shake Less rare than scarce, less diamond than rough Unlikely to be more than just the coal you fail to crush, and I swear, I'm really trying It just don't come natural to me to think that you'd want me for me I swear, I'm really trying Oh, I'm sorry, I promise, I'm doing my best I just haven't learned how to be human as you are yet"

you should see me in a crown: They find out from Raphael what his scars on his back mean, and about the Ritual of Profane Ascension. He is fantasizing about what he would do if he managed to overtake it in private. He wants the power it would grant him.

"You should see me in a crown I'm gonna run this nothing town Watch me make 'em bow One by, one by one, one by, one by You should see me in a crown Your silence is my favorite sound Watch me make 'em bow One by, one by one, one by, one by one"

Perhaps Vampire is a Bit Strong But... : Astarion fights and confronts Cazador for the centuries of abuse he put him through. 

"'Cause all you people are vampires And all your stories are stale And though you pretend to stand by us I know you're certain we'll fail I've seen your eyes as they fix on me, full of confusion Your snarl is just so condescending Try to explain that we're onto a win If the fee we are in near recoups what we're spending"

He can choose to complete the ritual in Cazador’s place, or kill him. Tav convinces him to not go through with the ritual, he kills Cazador:

What Was I Made For?: He kills Cazador and doesn’t complete the ritual expecting a sense of relief and gratification but feels nothing. He thought he would feel free without a master to rule over him, but he feels lost.

"What was I made for? Hm 'Cause I, I I don't know how to feel But I wanna try I don't know how to feel But someday I might Someday I might"

Two Coffins: He is coming to terms with Tav’s mortality. He is mourning the loss of the opportunity to have her forever by not going through with the ritual.

"Two coffins for sleep One for you one for me We'll get there eventually In the dark of our graves our bodies will decay I wish you'd never change How lucky I ever was to see The way that you smile at me Your little moon face shining bright at me One day soon there'll be nothing left of you and me Two coffins for sleep Two coffins for sleep All the things that I have yet to lose Will someday be gone soon Back into annihilation All things will fade Maybe it's better off that way I wish you'd stay with me"

Rain: For a moment, he regrets not going through with the ritual and feels a slight disdain for Tav for stopping him. This song is when he comes to realize it was the correct choice and is thanking her. He knows that he would have just become just like Cazador, and thanks to her he is breaking the cycle of abuse.

"For so long, I have waited So long that I almost became Just a stoic statue, fit for nobody And I don't wanna get in your way But I finally think I can say That the vicious cycle was over The moment you smiled at me"

My Instincts Are The Enemy: He is confiding in Tav that he wants to be with her forever, but explaining what that means for her. He is tied to the night, and she is tied to him. Is she ok with that?

"I'm paralyzed, engaged in civil war What can I do? Either way, I lose You lose, too Days are nights, and nights are unbearable What can I do? Chained to this mood You're chained to me Keep asking different questions The same answer I receive I need you more than ever To tell me what you've seen"

Sunlight: The Netherbrain is defeated and the tadpoles are gone from their minds. Without the tadpole he is now unable to withstand the sun. He is coping with the lack of sun by replacing it with Tav. From now on she is his sunlight.

"I had been lost to you, sunlight And flew like a moth to you, sunlight, oh, sunlight Oh, your love is sunlight Oh, your love is sunlight But it is sunlight All the tales the same Told before and told again A soul that's born in cold and rain Knows sunlight, sunlight, sunlight And at last can grant a name To a buried and a burning flame As love and its decisive pain Oh, my sunlight, sunlight, sunlight"

Fin.

[selunesdreams]

Chapter 43: Accident Prone

Chapter from ongoing fic Forms of Imprisonment. Full story on AO3.

Pairing: Spawn Astarion (post-tadpole) x OFC

Word Count: 2.6k

Warnings: 18+. FLUFF, violence, blood, injury, threat of death/dying, Astarion being an exhibitionist little shit, poetry?, religion, religious trauma, a dragon. *Smut in other chapters/throughout story.

--------------------------------------------------

When the maid knocks with breakfast the following morning, Astarion leaps from bed, unclothed, at the opportunity to fluster her just as she sets the tray in front of the door. She turns and rushes away as he stoops to pick it up, presenting it to Celeste. The tantalizing aroma of brewed coffee and warm pastries reminds her of the hunger she’s ignored for nearly a day, nagging at her stomach.

“Do you have to torment the poor thing?” A mouthful of scone muffles her voice.

“She just makes it so fun,” Astarion purrs as he crawls onto the plush mattress beside her. “Do you suppose mine is the first-”

Celeste interrupts his words by forcefully shoving a flaky pastry into his mouth, and he grimaces, removing it and tossing it on his nightstand. The taste, once promising, turns to bitter ash on his tongue.

“Appetizing as it smells, I’m afraid this body can’t enjoy anything else,” He mumbles. “Perhaps tomorrow things will be different.” His tone takes on a faint, hopeful note as he drums his fingers against her thigh. 

Setting her food aside, Celeste reclines onto the pillows, offering her neck in invitation. “You shouldn’t go hungry, even if it is your last day as a vampire,” she drags her finger down her throat in a teasing gesture.

Astarion’s eyes darken with desire, inching closer and pressing his lips to her fragile skin.

“Careful, I’m beginning to think you’ll miss this,” He murmurs. 

“I might,” a mischievous smile dances on her lips, soon faltering into a wince as his fangs sink in. He drinks from her, reaching down her body. He savors the taste of her, wondering if he’ll miss it when he no longer needs it to survive. 

They remain between the sheets well into the afternoon, lazily exploring one another’s bodies between conversation. Celeste describes the events of her teenage years - recounting how she ended up with the Harpers before embarking on her studies, how she met Gale at a temple library he’d snuck into. Astarion, in turn, delves into fragmented memories of his past life - the way his father tended to their private garden, his mother’s hands as they’d deftly mend and sew his clothes.

“Is that why you enjoy it? Does it remind you of her?”

“I... don’t know,” He admits with uncertainty as he peers up at the ceiling, lost in his own thoughts. “Her face is a shadow in my mind, my father’s voice an echo of something I can barely recall. But I suppose pieces of them live on in me, somewhere in my subconscious.”

Celeste hums in response, snatching his novel from the nightstand. Resting against his chest, she holds the book inches from her nose and reads aloud.

“My light, my heart, my world. I would watch the stars with you to the end of time

-But night forever arches into day, and the sleepy nothing of the sunlit hours will mutter on.

So instead I shall find eternity in a moment,

And by the glance of moonbeams in your eyes, will I be brought to rest As rest should be

- enduring, still, Longing for naught but itself.”

“Pretty.” She comments. “If not a bit sentimental.”

“I found it on a body in Rethwein,” he recalls proudly, “keep going dear, it gets very horny.”

She snorts and rises from the bed, dragged back down by her wrist as Astarion kisses her possessively. He releases her with a wink, watching as she disappears into the bathroom, leaving him alone with his thoughts for what he perceives as an agonizing amount of time. When she returns, hair dry but body glistening, scented with jasmine bath oils, he eagerly sits up, tracking her every movement as she shrugs on her robe, tying it around her waist. She flops down next to him to recommence her reading silently.

Astarion idly traces circles on her hip, reading over her shoulder as her eyes flit across the pages. After several minutes, her eyelids flutter and her lips part slightly, before her limbs go limp, the book slipping from her grasp as she falls into a deep slumber. He situates her against the pillows and she sighs softly, curling against him and napping soundly as the hours pass. The glow of the sun against the drawn velvet curtains gradually fades as night descends.   

She stirs at nothing, not even the sound of knocking at the door, her face buried in Astarion’s chest and a leg thrown over his hips, anchoring him to the bed. The knocking persists, a little louder this time, and he groans, trying to disentangle himself as gently as possible from her. 

“Gods damn it,” he halfheartedly grumbles.

Eventually, he extracts himself enough to slip out from under her, leaving her to continue sleeping as he cracks the door, finding Gale waiting on the other side.

“Find me tomorrow means find me tomorrow,” the wizard says. “Not to wait until I seek you out just hours before you make a life altering decision.”

Astarion presses a finger to his lips and retreats back into the room, pulling on a pair of trousers and slipping into the hallway, beckoning Gale several steps away from the bedroom door as to not disturb Celeste. 

“She’s resting.”

“This long?” Gale asks, raising an eyebrow. “We should get going soon, if you intend to do this. Which leads me to my question…are you doing this? With the Tear?”

Astarion peeks down the hall, ensuring they’re alone before responding, “Yes. I’m-we are .”

His friend lets out a breath. “I’m happy for you, truly.” A small, subtle smile tugs at a corner of his mouth. “You’re prepared for the responsibility? You’ve never a man of faith...”

“I’ve seldom found Celeste praying in her spare time. I’m hopeful I’ll escape that fate as well…” 

“And you understand the consequences? You’ll be bound to her for eternity. At the very least, until one of you dies. Meaning you can’t be reckless - if you cut your own life short with your haphazard plans, she’ll suffer for it.”

“I assure you, no one has considered the risks more than me.” Astarion says irritably, glancing around again before leaning in a little closer. “There’s another matter we need to discuss.”

“And that is?” Gale inquires, his brow furrowing.

“Once we this…ritual is complete, we should take the fight to the Sharrans. Leave the temple.” He lowers his voice before he continues, just enough so the wizard can hear him. “We can’t trust the high priestess, and if we reach Keresta in the Undermountain, we’ll catch her off guard.”

Gale contemplates for a moment. “That’s…not your worst plan. Come to think of it..” he pauses, “I need a sending spell. I’ll explain more later.”

“Wouldn’t it be ill-advised to loop more people into this?” He asks.

“Of course, but-“

The creak of the bedroom door cuts Gale’s sentence short, and his eyes go wide. Astarion tenses and instinctively spins to find Celeste, her lip split, cheek already starting to bruise as Keresta holds her head back, one hand fisted in Celeste’s hair as she presses a dagger to her throat. 

“Don’t give her anything she wants.” Celeste says, panting through her nose as she forces herself to remain still behind Keresta’s blade.

“Hello again.” The vampiress says, cheerful and mocking, her gaze floating past Astarion. “Wizard.” she emphasizes the acknowledgement with a provocative wink.

“How did you get in here?” He snarls.

“I’ve got friends everywhere,” Keresta says arrogantly before looking down at Celeste. “Did you enjoy breakfast, love? Feeling tired?”

Astarion curses under his breath, realizing that her deep sleep had nothing to do with physical exertion. Perhaps he shouldn’t have taunted the chambermaid so much.

“If you kill her, you forfeit what’s promised to your goddess.” Gale begins, fear in his voice betraying his attempt at gaining upper ground, “Shar will despise you for it.” 

“What makes you think Shar has any interest in her anymore?” Keresta sneers as she addresses her hostage. “You’ve proven yourself to be a simpering fool for the moonmaiden time and time again. What a waste.” 

“Let her go,” Astarion says firmly, stepping closer, “and I’ll come with you willingly.”

“Don’t. You. Dare.” Celeste growls at him.

“Were beyond negotiations, spawn. You had your chance.” The vampiress responds coldly, “but I will make sure this is painfully slow.”

She plunges her blade into the center of Celeste’s stomach with a sinister smile.

Keresta evaporates into a dark mist and soundlessly, Celeste’s mouth opens as she looks down at herself, crimson seeping through the white silk of her robe, blood running down the front onto her bare legs where it parts just below her thighs. 

“Astarion?” She chokes out a shocked gasp as she meets his stare. Her eyes roll back and she collapses in the doorway.

He swears, scrambling forward to catch her before she hits the floor.

“We need Shadowheart!” He shouts over his shoulder. Gale, looking on in horror, snaps into action, his footsteps pounding down the hall. Astarion watches helplessly as Celeste gasps, blood seeping from her injury. His hands tremble as he desperately tries to apply pressure.  

His attempts futile, he tenderly gathers her in his arms, carrying her to the bed and easing her atop it slowly. The room shows clear signs of a struggle, and he can’t comprehend how he and Gale didn’t hear any of it from outside. 

“Celeste? Love, are you with me?” Astarion crouches next to the bed, brushing the hair from Celeste’s face as he tries to keep her awake. 

“Mm.” She squeezes her eyes shut in pain. He catches her hand as it reaches weakly for her abdomen. 

“Don’t touch it yet,” he pleads. “Gale’s gone to get Shadowheart, just- just hold on, alright?”

“It hurts,” she croaks.

“Shadowheart’s coming.” He says, gripping her hand, more a reassurance to himself than anything.

Celeste arches her back, straining against the mattress, hands fisting the sheets as she writhes in against them. Astarion’s chest tightens with sympathy and dread, and he becomes more and more frantic as she hiccups, struggling for breath.

To his relief, Shadowheart barrels into the room and shoves him aside. She wastes no time, immediately probing Celeste’s abdomen. The blue light of her power flickers and sizzles away over and over, but the bleeding persists.

“It’s not working!” the cleric exclaims in frustration. “Keresta’s blade must be enchanted, bone-chilled-“

Astarion’s heart sinks as he runs his fingers through his hair, turning to face the window. “This isn’t happening.”

“Astarion.” Gale says delicately, inclining his head in Celeste’s direction. The pallor of her skin grows more pronounced by the second. “She doesn’t have long.”

He glances down at her, a trickle of blood forming at the corner of her mouth. A tightness grips his chest, suffocating dread. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people had died in his presence, whether by his own hand or Cazador’s, making him intimately acquainted with death’s last whispers.

He has no interest in the untouchable grief of committing a lover to the funeral pyre.

This cannot be the end.

“No. No one’s dying today.”

With a fluid motion, he gathers Celeste in his arms, her feeble wrists locking around his neck.

“Get the Tear and the others,” he orders. “Meet me in the chamber downstairs. We have to get to Argentil now .” 

Shadowheart and Gale nod in understanding, and Astarion carries Celeste outside and to the stairs. He moves with silent precision, keeping to the shadows, evading all attention until they reach the guarded corridor. 

“Sharrans!” He gestures behind him. “That way!”

The guards snap to awareness and rush past him. Seizing the opportunity, he continues down the passage to the spiral staircase. The walls blur as they descend further below the temple. When he arrives at the chamber entrance, he realizes it has been sealed,

“No, no, no-”

His friends file in behind them, Karlach carrying the Tear.

“We hit a snag.” Wyll says, looking over his shoulder. 

“You could have just asked.”

A voice emerges from the stairwell as Rayne materializes, striding past them with purpose. Placing her palm on the door, as she did before, it obeys whatever silent command she’s given it, the runes illuminating as the stone slides away, revealing the portal within.

“Why are you helping us?” Celeste asks hoarsely, surprised.  

“There will be time to address your mistrust later.” Rayne replies calmly, “Your time is precious, and I have a breach to investigate.”  

Without a moment’s hesitation, Astarion rushes into the pool, his every sense alert. He plunges beneath the surface, the cool, inky waters enveloping him and Celeste. The sea roars in his ears as the darkness dissipates. Kneeling on the shore of the Gates of the Moon, he finds his companions nearby, taking in the ethereal landscape before them.

“Whoah.” Wyll sits up, gazing at the sky in awe. 

“Better or worse?” Astarion asks Celeste, looking over her injury. She grunts, trying to sit up on her own. 

“Improving.” she says with some uncertainty. “It’s like a weight has lifted off of me.” 

“Shar’s magic can’t reach you here,” Shadowheart explains. “Your ability to heal has returned.”

“We’ve got trouble!” Karlach calls out, as a chaos dragon swoops low with a shriek, landing on the beach between them and the palace. It bares its teeth, dripping with saliva, each approximately the length of Astarion himself. The ground shakes under their feet as the beast growls menacingly, an ominous clicking sound in the back of its throat. 

Astarion tenses, pulling Celeste towards the portal. 

“Wait.” she says, rising to her feet and bracing a fist on her stomach, staggering closer to the creature with her arm outstretched.

Astarion takes half a step forward, reaching for his weapons. “Celeste, what in the hells are you doing?”

“Trust me.” She grinds out.

He grits his teeth. 

“No offense, my love- but you’re not exactly in the best shape to be making decisions right now,” he says, drawing his daggers deliberately behind him. 

Celeste murmurs something, holding out a bloodied hand, and the dragon squints. Whether in understanding or annoyance, Astarion can’t tell. 

Because she isn’t speaking Common or Elvish.

He stares, dumbfounded, as she communicates with it, shocked he hasn’t yet seen the love of his life engulfed in flames.  

“What are you saying to it?” He blurts out.

“Shut the fuck up!" Karlach hisses.

He glares at the tiefling, then returns his attention to Celeste, watching as the monstrosity before her crouches down in the sand, lowering itself to eye level with her as she speaks. 

With a huff, it waves its head side to side and shakes itself, rough scales rippling across its back, and blinks at Celeste several times. It raises its head to the sky, beating its wings and sending gusts of wind that kick up the surrounding terrain, and takes flight. Its tail sweeps through the air, missing Gale by a breath’s width. 

Astarion scowls as the dragon departs, mud sticking to his sweat-damp skin. His eyes dart to the others, and he rapidly sheathes his blades before running to Celeste’s side, catching her around the waist and steadying her.

“You... gods damn it, you reckless woman!” he barks, “You never mentioned you speak Draconic?”

“That…” Isobel says, appearing above them as she descends the steps from the castle with Aylin at her side, “was not Draconic.”

Astarion scowls. “We could have used you two about five minutes ago.” He picks Celeste up, carrying her up the step, ignoring her protests that she’s capable of walking on her own. 

“If it wasn’t Draconic, what in the hells was it, anyway?” He demands. 

Aylin smirks. 

“The dragons here speak Celestial."

[ladyduellist]

Epistles of Saints & Sinners

Chapter Summary:

Astarion's plans go awry when confronted with his own past.

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

Story Summary:

When Astarion meets the humble bard, Tav, he soon finds out he's the only one between them that knows they are bound as soulmates through their marks. Deciding it's more trouble than its worth, he refuses to tell her along the course of their journey across Faerûn.

But, unbeknownst to him and their companions, Tav is harboring a gruesome secret that she only thought was nothing more than a traumatized period in her life.

As they both come to face to face with their pasts and presents, will they choose to move forward or let it consume them?

Healing isn’t linear—after all.

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

Chapter 12: Hunt*

Ao3

Next Chapter

Previous Chapter

Main Page & Chapter List

Word Count: 5.6k

Pairing: Astarion x female bard Tav

CW: Smut, Vaginal Sex, CPTSD episode during sex, Cazador, Blood & Violence, Act 1 Spoilers

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

Vampires are some of the deadliest monsters we may contend with. I do not relish my current mission to seek out the spawn, Astarion. But, he may be the only way we can ever see our children again. I am plagued by visions of them being carried away by these blood hungry creatures. Plagued even more by their screams that fill my mind in the most quiet of hours. Full blooded vampires become consumed with whatever they set their eyes upon. But spawns—I have to wonder—if they were to escape their masters, would they be able to redeem themselves if they took the road less traveled?

— Gandrel of the Gur Tribe, journal entry 567

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

“I suppose I should, yet again, count myself lucky: the bastard is alone,” Astarion smirked, picking a few stray leaves from his clothes. He had just returned from a lengthy scouting trip assessing the hunter they may parley with.

It had been several days of traversing rocky footpaths until they arrived in the Sunlit Wetlands. Several days of anxious nights wondering if Cazador sent more pawns to retrieve him. Several days of nothing more than forlorn glances exchanged with the elven songstress.

Wyll crossed his arms, concentrating on Astarion’s face. “That at least bodes well. Did he look familiar to you?”

“Not at all. Though I have met a lot of the city’s miscreants over the years, it’s possible he’s a scorned lover of a lover that Cazador convinced to seek vengeance. He had a lot of connections in the city—so it’s hard to say.”

“Let’s fucking goooo,” Karlach roared as her axe split apart a piece of log. She swiped away wood dustings from her brow, turning to the vampire. “What makes you think this is Cazador’s doing, fancy boy?”

“Oh, how could I forget that it must be one of my many adoring fans, come to shake my hand out in the middle of blasted nowhere,” Astarion replied with a sneer. “Tell me: who else could it be?!”

Of course it had to be his former master! Cazador Szarr would do anything to ensure his spawns stayed forever reliant upon him. For them to know that survival without him wasn’t possible. Astarion knew deep down that no matter how he repeatedly longed for freedom, if he showed up, without question the vampire spawn would still feel betrothed as a slave to enact his heinous mandates. Compelled or not, the attachment to him remained.

The fiery tiefling teetered her axe over her shoulder, ready to swing downward again. “Alright. Alright. As much as I’m always raring to go, I just want to be sure we aren’t getting caught in a trap, yea?”

She had a point. Cazador, reclusive as he was, commandeered powers that most were unaware. Their group was mighty, but could they defeat a vampire lord? It would be nearly impossible, but the fraction of a percentage that they could end his life for good, ignited an invaluable resolve inside of the spawn.

Astarion debonairly examined his nails. “Well, darlings, I’m sure I can go about this on my own if you’re not up for a bit of potential excitement.”

“I have every bit of faith you can handle this by yourself, but I think it goes without saying that hunters are all too well-versed in regions such as these. There may be something we don’t know from what you’ve investigated,” Wyll interjected.

“Why Wyll, the famed monster hunter is going to help protect a monster?! I could kiss you! Or bite you—if that is your preference,” the vampire giddily responded, clasping his hands together as he flashed the tip of his fang.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves Astarion,” Wyll chuckled, uncrossing his arms to gesture a stop signal with his hand. “Shall we say around morrow’s noon we head down to speak with the stranger?”

“I’d prefer to stab first, but if you insist, who am I to deny such a handsome face?” Astarion flirtatiously bowed his head.

Karlach visibly shrugged her shoulders, breathing out a long sigh. “Ugh, finnnne. Let’s get this good and over with before something awful happens to your pretty face and you break someone’s fucking heart.”

“My dearest Karlach, are you saying you wouldn’t miss me?”

“I’m saying that our leader wouldn’t be all too happy with any of us if we just let you sod off on your own,” she clarified firmly. “By the way, you may want to speak with Tav about our plans.”

The vampire fisted his hand near his mouth, pretending to cough. “Ahem, well, I’m sure she’s been far too busy entertaining our newest druidic hunk we’ve adopted to camp. They’ve been practically braiding each other's hair since the party.”

“Gods, you don’t sound jealous at all,” she teased. “And look who it is! Mornin’ to you soldier!”

And there she was. Trailing into camp on melodies she sang under her breath. Lavender and vanilla invisibly suffocating him with its whorls of scent around his neck.

Wyll waved in her direction. “Tav! Could we trouble you for a moment?”

Tav quietly nodded, giving him a subtle smile out of the corner of her mouth.

“Astarion just returned back from surveying the bog and it would seem that this hunter is currently alone. Few weapons, but I reckon he has the good sense to protect himself with other means.”

“The three of us are heading down to speak with him come highsun tomorrow. But, if shit goes bad, we’ll be armed,” Karlach added, flexing her arm high in the air. “Hey, are you okay? You look awful.”

“There is nothing to worry about, Karlach. Personal matters.” The bard tried to peer behind the tiefling, staring at the elven man that was clearly avoiding her. “Astarion, did you approve of this?”

He raised his head, the state of her startling him. The skin around her eyes was swollen, a glaze of wetness having long filmed over her sclera. It was evident she had been crying on and off since their last encounter. She was lacking her usual demure aura, visibly rundown.

Astarion cocked a bleary eyebrow at her. “I did.”

“Then, I trust you to handle this to the best of your abilities.”

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

In the middle of the night’s air, Astarion stood outside of Tav’s tent entrance, overwrought with a queasiness burning the walls in his stomach.

After their argument several days ago, he left in a panicked state to hide under the forest canopy bordering their camp. The illusion of hyperventilation attacked his lungs—a memory of it really—as he held onto the bulwarked trunk of a tree. And then, blood spewed from his mouth. He leaned over, coughing and vomiting up a mouthful of the bear’s crimson he consumed earlier that evening.

He had charmed and manipulated Tav enough times to create the image that would steal her away like a rogue in the night. And she craved it. She wanted him to fill the role of her abductor, appearing from behind the curtains in her bedroom, to entice her with cool lips on her knuckles and sworn covenants of intimacy with his bite. Urging her to just let go.

Yet, his plan kept hitting snags.

Without a doubt, he knew his instinctual techniques were all in order. When there had been a few mishaps, he quickly adapted and switched his tactics. But, what he didn’t account for—what he had little to no proficiency in—was dealing with these people’s bygone histories for this length of time. Try as he might to reluctantly focus on the lamentable surface details of the bard and the kettle of vultures—their companions—that circled the hearth of their campfire, piles of their shit kept unearthing themselves like the carcasses of burying beetles.

And he didn’t fucking care.

Why should he? He didn’t know them. Oh, they were a formidable bunch, each having inherited an adeptness for physical or magical strength. He extended his belief in them about as far as relying on them in battle would allow him. But what had they truly done for him otherwise? It wasn’t them that offered mercy upon his vampiric existence and allowed him to stay within their group. It wasn’t them that made sure he was properly fed, baptizing him in their blood.

No, the only person he owed a speckle of his acknowledgement to was the songbird with the voice of singing jewels. Though she challenged him at every nook and cranny of their time together, she was the only one to judge him in such a way that seemed fairly balanced.

Until now.

Tav with her saintly observations, was becoming aware of his methodical ministries. Perhaps not in the sense that she could pinpoint exactly what his strategy was, but gods, her cursed awareness and the cloistered tale of her former life, filled him with enough discomfort he almost considered forgoing his plan entirely.

She knew something was amiss with him. She knew he had to be embellishing everytime he damn near spoke to her about anything other than his wretched past. So, why didn’t she make more of an effort to single him out and put him on trial? Had she been waiting for him to tell her otherwise? To correct her misgivings she was having about him.

It made him uneasy to not know. He could poke around in her mind with their worms, but that certainly wouldn’t bode well if she was unreceptive to the notion.

What an absolute shitshow, Astarion chastised when a strained laugh cut silently through his teeth.

Not to mention the realization that it was not only the façade of her companionship and intimacy he would have to contend with. This foe was clever—more so than he. It had been in her life years before him. Knew her in ways he had yet to scour. And when she tried to disobey it, it had a way of enticing her back into the comfort of its everlasting punishment.

And the name of such a formidable nemesis? Her past.

He couldn’t afford to lose her—not yet. It was too soon and far too late to humor his whims on another camp occupant. Nay, he would see this through to the end. Tav’s or anyone else’s lives be damned!

“I can smell the bergamot in your oils,” a meek voice breathed out. “You can come in whenever you’re ready.”

Astarion deeply inhaled, preparing himself to face her, knowing he may have to use his body for another nightfall to convince her not to forsake him. His performance hinged on being immaculate tonight—to be everything she wanted.

Another transaction: imitated comfort for the reinstated troth of her loyalty.

He lowered himself to his knees and opened the flap of her tent to enter. Tav sat with the used lute on her lap, twisting and tuning the pegs on her bare thighs. She struck a chord, listening intently as the sounds vibrated off the walls of blue linen, then adjusted further or moved onto the next string.

She lifted her head to acknowledge him. With the candlelight casting a golden glow across her face, Astarion thought this may have been one of the few times she possessed such a delicate lethargy.

“Is something the matter?”

“I—no,” he paused. What would be the right thing to say in this situation? “I thought it would be in my good nature to check in on you. But if now isn’t a good time, I can come back later.”

Tav blinked at him several times, then gestured for him to come further in with a nod. He scooted closer to her on his knees, allowing the flap of the tent to cascade off his back like a discarded blanket.

“I'm not a fan of this lute, especially the strings on it, but some things can’t be helped right now. I should be grateful Alfira could even find one available for me,” she spoke softly as if he wasn’t there. “Hopefully, when we make it to a different area or even the city, I can buy a new one.”

The vampire cleared his throat, resting his sweating palms on his thighs. “There’s differences between them? I mean, of course the details are not the same, but what of the sound?”

A shallow smile formed at the corner of her mouth as she continued fiddling with the tune. “Lutes, flutes, drums, violins—any musical instrument really—sounds different depending on several factors. The material used. Strings. Weight. Length. It all determines the sound produced.”

“What type of wood do you prefer for your lutes?”

The messy bun pinned on top of her head bobbed as she popped her head up to stare at him. “Spruce. Always spruce. It has the brightest sound—perfect for ballads.” She pushed her bangs to the side as an afterthought, placing the instrument by her side. “I appreciate you coming here tonight, but you don’t need to pretend you’re actually interested in a music lesson.”

“My dear, I have quite the appreciation for the arts of all kinds,” he grinned. “However, since your perception precedes you, I’m here because I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And then I realized that the whole thinking part was actually a worry.” He covered his lies by slowly lifting his eyes under a refuge furled lashes to peer at her.

“You don’t need to worry about me,” Tav stated, pursing her lips.

“I’ll have you know, that I could be sinking my fangs into a deer al fresco right about now, but instead I choose to be here. Now, let’s forego this game of hopscotch and chat.”

She ran the pads of her fingers along the edging of her nightshirt. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to revisit parts of our disagreement from a few days ago—if you’re willing to talk about it with me.”

He wasn’t willing, but what choice did he have if he wanted to keep up this charade with her?

Astarion cocked his head to the side to nod, flaring his nostrils with a practiced breath. “If it's truly that bothersome to you, then I suppose I could pencil you in right this very second to listen.”

He could hear the strums of her pulse trembling. She was nervous.

Blood rushed to her lips, coloring them in roses. He saw tears welling up, threatening to spill over her lower lids. She could no longer hold it in. “First of all: I’m so so sorry, Astarion. What you said about ‘power’ reminded me so much of…I…I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions like I did. You are your own person, not some reanimated villain of my tragedies.”

Ah, so she wished to focus on her reactions instead of the subject he hastily broached during his blood drunken stupor. How very like her to satisfy her own accountability. This could work in his favor.

Astarion would not press. Should she circle back to his unfavorable comments, well, he could always blame it on the mind flayer tadpole having deceptively influenced his mind after their encounter with other ‘true souls.’ In case he needed to change routes in the moment to suit her thoughts and actions, he made a mental note to be considerably more deliberate in reading her facial expressions.

Finding out just how much power these worms wielded, delighted the vamp. Of course they would be valuable in advancing his fight against Cazador, but directing those around him to do as he pleased? Gods.

The positions he could seat! The material wealth he could own! The liberty to indulge in all manners of debauchery and authority!

A future living side by side with an illithid creation suddenly didn’t sound so horrible.

“May I ask who he is?” he questioned, trying to inflict his tone to a more polite wisp.

She shied away from looking at him directly, guilt-ridden and hiccuping. Tav’s lips trembled, shaking her head to refuse him while she continued to weep.

It intrigued Astarion to see the normally strong-hearted woman bearing this unknown man’s crown of thorns with the pith of his blackened blood dripping from her eyes like melted candles. Days ago, during their night’s quarrel, the soul mark behind his ear hammered rapidly to the point of searing pain when she mentioned him. This man—this incubus—still choked her with his malignant hands, even though he was probably leagues away.

The hells cracked open, And he was reborn. With evil tongues spoken, Her scrawled promises would not be mourned.

While bewitching the bard had been as ordinary to Astarion as any everyday routine, she was hiding the flotsam of her personal dogmas sundered by this same mortal, making his task all the more difficult. A heretic to her own emotions.

They were both slaves to their pasts and towed the weighted cold night visions where escape seemed nothing more than mere fantasy. And he felt something by this acknowledgment. A blink of connection to her in the form of empathy.

Empathy?

Hells, it had been so long since he knew any emotion except anger, terror, and numbness. But, empathy held dire consequences. One of the last times he felt any ounce of said emotion, cost him a year of starvation inside of that derelict burial place. The memory still seemed so fresh in comparison to the ages he’d lived. If he let himself know empathy once more, it would mean allowing himself to be in a position of the same weakness he had been in for centuries.

“You don’t understand how awful I feel for how I reacted,” Tav managed to squeeze out of her throat.

He moved further within the tent to sit cross-legged in front of her, angling his head downwards to grab her attention. “Silly creature, of course I understand how awful you feel. Your heart is literally an open wound gushing onto everyone it passes. If someone ran into you, YOU would be the one to apologize.

“We’re still alive, aren’t we? Well, you are at least, but I do have the advantage of being ravishing forever,” he added with a quip.

The bard laughed as her body shook with sobs. Hands flew to her face, catching the falling tears with dabs of her fingertips.

“Darling.” He reached out to her with his palm up. “Come here. I can’t leave you blubbering like some muppet begging for scraps.”

Taking a hesitant breath, Tav placed her hand gingerly into the inviting salve he offered, holding onto it tightly. “A moment longer. I have more to say.”

Astarion’s mind filled with dread. If she terminated their agreement, that would be it—his protection would cease. The possibility of Cazador dragging him off screaming into the shadows, felt more real than it ever had been. Swiftly, his brain sprang into action. He would use whatever methods possible to adapt.

Touch. Comfort. Sex. Promises. Encouragement. Which would she need?

“Don’t keep me in suspense now, my sweet. You know how I hate to wait,” he smirked in his typical silvery tone.

“I’m trying to word this as not to sound like a psychotic lover here,” she laughed anxiously. “But, I have run ’us’ through my mind more times than I can count and I keep wondering if it would be best if we end whatever this is between us. Casual distractions would be much easier if we didn’t see each other everyday, but we don’t have that luxury and—

“Do you even like me?” Tav questioned wearily. It was apparent such ideas had been consuming her.

No.

“Do I like you? I mean, you definitely have a certain set of allures about you,” he answered slowly. He wasn’t lying about her qualities—if that’s what people choose to call them—but, no, he did not care for her.

A grimace settled on her expression as she removed her hand from his.

“Were you expecting a more defined answer?”

The bard chewed at her lip lightly with her front tooth. “I’m expecting something that doesn’t feel like you’re acting on stage,” she replied stiffly. “You seem so versed in saying all the right things, but there is a pit in my stomach warning me it’s not all true. I don’t want you to force yourself with me.”

Oh, but he would force himself. His survival depended on it.

The spawn ran his hand through his curls, flashing a glib smile she didn’t detect. “Ha! Could that be your own insecurities speaking? Or shall I get down on my knees and recite a sonnet of my undying affections for you? Would you believe me then?”

Turning away, she looked past him towards the ground. “Is it so wrong for me to desire something real, Astarion?”

Hope.

She wanted hope.

He could perform hope.

The vampire enclosed her ruddy cheek with his hand, thumbing a gentle swipe across the roundest point. She shut her eyelids lazily, microscopic tears still adhering on her lashes like diamond dust.

“Don’t turn away from me, Tavelle,” he commanded her gently. “A woman that has as much to offer as you, deserves to hold her head up high and be worshiped.”

As if to confirm her yearning for him, her eyes roamed half-opened to search his face. She fisted the ruffling of his shift tightly, pulling herself taut against his chest to crash her lips fervently against his with a tight gasp.

The kiss was urgent. Delivered as if they’d both turn into smoke in an instant. Like she’ll lose me someday, Astarion thought.

He could hear her heartbeat stepping out of its darkness, begging, begging, begging him to cradle her adorations for him.

Kneading his pale lips on hers instinctually, she tangled a free hand into waves of silvery-white earning her a low hum from the deepest reaches of his voice box. “Star…" she incanted into his mouth.

Fluidly, he reached up to unpin her hair, allowing her tresses to fall over her shoulders. He decorated his lithe digits with her silken strands, tugging her head gently backwards to drop fervid pecks down her throat. She cried out, sputtering lilting syllables of his name everytime he idly rearranged his hold on her hair.

Tav held onto his arms as he worked his tongue in circles. “Tell me you want this. Tell me you want me,” she pleaded, clawing at his clothes.

Releasing her hair, he pulled Tav back in to seam their mouths together. She sucked tenderly on his upper lip, grazing her tongue horizontally across it, before she finally nipped at it playfully.

He pushed his nose into her cheek, abruptly stopping them. She was short of breath, heaving in anticipation for him to kiss her again.

Grabbing her chin firmly, Astarion’s eyes flitted down to her lips as he spoke mere centimeters from them. ”You’ve slowly been driving me insane,” he roughly asserted, avoiding her want for affirmations.

She snuck her fingers up the length of him, lacing them behind his neck. Her lips parted, a husky reply threatening to swallow them whole. “What do you mean to do with me then?”

A lukewarm thumb found safety pressed against her lips. The tip of her tongue tunneled through the gap of her mouth and licked a teasing small patch of skin on the inside of it. Debauched images of him drawing blood from her tongue filled his mind. Biting and biting every inch of her supple flesh until he had his fill of her essence settling like a fine wine in his veins. He panted maddeningly at the thought, his shaft hardening immediately.

Then, the minx slinkingly shifted onto his lap, encircling her legs on either side of his hips. She undulated on the length of his bulge compressed in the middle of her soaked smalls and his trousers. Insolently, she yanked a handful of his hair. He hissed at the delicious pain now aching through his cock and the back of his head.

Pallid dexterous hands ripped the front of her shirt open, cutting buttons loose to fly into the air. The strength of his paw found her breast hiding behind the torn fabric and he squeezed it considerably, pinching an erect nipple. She moaned his name, trying to keep her body upright.

Sharp teeth nibbled a sliver of flesh near the corner of her lips. “Is this what you need? For me to take you as I please?”

Tav nodded innocently, her whole body turning flush with desire.

And then something feral snapped inside of Astarion. That spine-tingling rapacious trait that was half vampire and half carnal man. He could have her if he wanted her; whenever he wanted. Fill him with her blood just to sate him. Her life belonged to him, if he so chose to take it.

“You can follow instructions properly, can’t you sweetheart?” Astarion grumbled as he tucked strands of her hair behind her ear. A strangled noise squeaked from her mouth as she shook her head. “Good. Now listen closely: I want you to unlace my pants, push your smalls to the side, and slide my cock inside that very wet slit of yours.”

The songstress whimpered, whilst she untied the bindings of his fly. “I want to be good for you, Astarion.”

Fuck, his name sounded like the filthiest sin coming from her mouth.

He peeled back the material of her shirt from her heaving bosom, exposing her soft milkiness. Humming around one of her pink buds that popped into his mouth, he felt her remove him from his pants with a few precursory strokes. Instinctively, his gaze feasted on the light bluish veins spreading across her breasts. Just a single bite couldn’t hurt?

“Hells,” he groaned as she sunk the crown of his cock into her clenching heat. “You like being this drenched for me, don’t you?”

“Only you…gods…make me like this,” Tav sang out, holding the back of his head while she adjusted to him inside her.

Her wetness dripped down his length as she stuffed him further into her, trickling down to settle on his testicles. A howling wail started from the middle of Tav’s diaphragm up through her windpipe when she glided up his erect prick once and came back down to his hilt. Astarion chased her mouth with his, muffling her frenzy with open-mouthed kisses.

“Shhh. Shh, songbird,” he hushed in a chuckle. “We are about to wake the lot of this camp soon.”

“I’m sorry. Just love…having you…inside of me,” she giggled lowly, kissing him with blistering ardor between her words.

Surprising the bard by grabbing under her ass, Astarion cajoled her to ride the stiff hardness in his lap. Tav hooked herself onto his shoulders, using them for support while she bounced upon him. Her tits brushed against his shirt with her movements, causing her swollen buds to stay hardened.

My prodigal son, what do we have here?

Master.

Ah, of course. Tonight would belong to the echoes of Cazador. There would be no need for the paralysis that enthralled the spawn’s body to take over, not when his master’s commands needed to be minded.

The vampire busied his fingertips by pressing them further into her flesh, focusing on her slickness encompassing all those nerves at the tip of his cock. He pushed her all the way down to his base, relishing the swaddling of her warmth around him.

A bard, hmm? Bring her to me.

Yes, master.

He reached a hand down in between them to swipe his thumb through her folds, caressing her clit in gentle circles. Tav’s mouth formed into a small “o.”

Look at her—enjoying your flesh like a whore. She’s exactly like all the others. You are only meant to satisfy her needs as a means to fulfill my hunger.

I won’t disobey you master.

“My sweet, turn around and let me fuck you from behind,” he urged mildly, trying to maintain his composure.

Astarion couldn’t let her see. He was steadily losing his grip on their surroundings, disappearing into the quilted stars of the night sky he summoned as he disconnected. If she saw he wasn’t present again, she would send him away.

Tav didn’t respond, continuing to pump his shaft with her tight cunt at a steady pace. She opened and closed her mouth in silent moans, replaced by heady breaths. Did she not hear him? He placed his hands on her waist attempting to settle her motions.

Would you like to hear her sing, Astarion? How do you think she’ll sound with her blood gurgling in her throat as I feed from her?

“Turn around,” he demanded firmly.

Body slowing to a near halt, she cupped his cheeks with a litany of fingers rasping the sharpness of his bones. She pressed a peck to his lips. “Lover, I want to look into your eyes while I’m on top.”

He bucked his hips maneuvering his legs to lift her off of him enough to push her down onto her bedroll. Spreading her legs open, he swiftly settled in between her thighs, and brashly reentered her with a concrete plunge. The bard yelped in shock, clutching his biceps tightly.

Soulmates? Tsk. Did my beloved spawn forget that he is not allowed to be connected to anything except me? Get rid of her mark.

I wish to please you master. Allow me to show my fealty to you.

His vision rapidly moved from side to side until he arched Tav into him to rest his forehead onto her soulmate mark, hiding, endeavoring it to disappear on its own so he wouldn’t have to hurt her. He thrust up into her hurriedly, trying to chase her to the banks of her climax to end his delusions.

“Wait,” she uttered as he drove into her.

Astarion ignored her, opening his mouth to frame his teeth around her soul mark. He must dispose of it.

“Astarion, no. Don’t bite there,” Tav ordered, snaring his curls at the root. “Look at me. Please.”

He’s everywhere. He knows where I am. He’s already taken everything from me. I’ll never be free, Astarion screamed inwardly in anguish.

His fangs pricked the first layer of her epidermis, pellets of crimson gathering around the invasion. The bard severely yanked his head to detach him, dribbles of her blood coating his lips. “I said no! GET OFF OF ME,” she shrieked, thrashing her body under him.

They became motionless. Her face had morphed into thousands upon thousands of blurry conquests. Voices: high and low, moaning, whispering their pleasures. Luring each of them in the dead of night to their death eternal. And Astarion, bound to the scaffold with a noose around his neck, forever being led back into Cazador’s arms.

And then her eyes were suddenly there in focus. Afraid and sorrowful. Full of tears. For her. For him. Rainy storm clouds floating across the earth. Tav with her inquisitor view, leading him on a pilgrimage away from the haunts of his deadened soul.

She covered her nakedness, pulling her ripped shirt over her breasts. Two pin prick spots of blood seeped through the fabric, reminding him of his violation. He was disgusted with himself.

What had he done?

“Tav, I’m sor—” Astarion proclaimed hoarsely, loosening his brace on her waist.

Tav reached up to place a hand on his cheek. “Leave,” her voice whispered sternly.

He couldn’t wash this away and escape what he was made into.

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

Burning iron-vine powder levitated in a cloudy haze around them.

A Gur?! A godsdamned bloody Gur. Cazador’s cruel humor never seemed to fail; he must have sent him.

His mind started to race. Astarion’s safety may be coming to an end. It was a misjudgement to ever presume that he could disappear without facing the repercussions of his former master. Would he ever have somewhere to land from all this falling?

“You’re Astarion?!” The monster hunter loudly said in surprise. “Apologies to your companions, but you’ll need to come with me.”

“Gandrel, was it? I’m not going anywhere.” Astarion removed the blade from his back, pointing it towards the man.

“Fuck! This is bad,” Karlach muttered to Wyll.

“Then, I’m afraid I have no choice but to take you by force,” Gandrel declared, shooting an ‘Ensnaring Strike’ spell at both the vampire and fiery woman.

Thorny vines raised up around their legs, holding them in place. Astarion sliced at them, trying to wriggle free, but the bindings only reinforced their seizure. “Uh, a little help?!”

He was too distracted to fight. Flooded by the memory of how Tav’s tears flowed like blown stars living their final moments. But, he could still feel her hands upon his cheeks. Her hands where flowers bloomed in the dark; flowers that emerged wherever she appeared.

Karlach swung her axe in a criss-cross pattern. “I can’t move! Wyll, you’ll need to repel him!”

Wyll lunged forward casting an Eldritch Blast that narrowly missed the hunter’s cheek. “Damn!”

Gandrel placed another arrow in his crossbow, aiming it at the spawn as he approached. “I’m sorry it had to come to this, but you’re needed else—”

The hunter suddenly collapsed onto one knee, a spray of blood ejecting from his mouth. He looked down at the arrow protruding out of his right side, then looked past the spawn.

Astarion followed his gaze, mouth wide open in shock when he reached his destination. “Songbird? But why?! I don't—”

Tav threw down her bow, reaching to unsheathe her rapier. “You’re a beacon of trouble, ‘Star.”

[sleepingdeath-light]

the ascendant’s beloved ; 18+

kinktober day six

pairing ; ascended!astarion ancunin x trans female!reader insert

fandom ; baldur’s gate 3

masterlists ; fandom | kinktober | ao3

content ; dominant!astarion, submissive!reader, pet play (cat), exhibitionism, power play, public sex act, thigh riding, praise kink

minors and ageless blogs do not interact

Astarian Ancunìn, the man that had come from nothing and yet had still managed to become far more than any other man could hope to be, was someone who had come to enjoy showing off his grandest possessions. Or, rather, he'd come to love showing off to those who he believed to be below him and lived for the times where they were forced to bask in the glory of his wealth and status while knowing that they will never get to share in it.

This meant that there were plenty of lavish parties and balls held at the newly named Crimson Palace once Astarion had comfortably settled into his new role as the master of the estate after spending so long as one of its countless captives.

The gatherings held during the daylight hours were, admittedly, much more tame in nature as they were mainly organised with the sole purpose of forming stronger social connections with the noble families of Baldur's Gate and its neighbouring city states, and to try and find potential targets to add to his growing vampiric army. So, naturally, this meant that most of your dear ascendant's boasting was limited to the more obvious signs of wealth kept within his grand inherited estate (such as the quiet luxury of the detailed embroidery adorning his many suits, or that of the countless antique paintings that adorned the grand walls of the palace's upper levels) and hidden behind a thin venire of faux-humbleness that had the Baldurian nobles in attendance nodding and laughing in blind agreement and showering him with flattery. On the rare occasion that you did attend these sunlit parties you tended to spend the whole event by Astarion's side, an action that both soothed his own possessive instincts by showing any would-be suitors in attendance that you were already spoken for, and that allowed him another opportunity to further solidify his facade of grandeur and generosity by presenting you as his dearly devoted wife that he so clearly doted upon as you were never to be seen in anything but the finest dresses and jewels.

From what little you'd heard of the outside world from the whispers of your ascendant's servants it seemed as if these occasional public appearances of yours had made you the envy of all the women in Baldur's Gate. A flattering idea to be sure, but you'd long since stopped caring about the opinions of anyone but Astarion so that rumour was forgotten as quickly as it was learned.

No. There were far more important things to lend your thoughts to, such as the nightly galas your beloved would host once his mortal guests had all left the palace grounds.

A crowd of hundreds, all so desperately vying for Astarion's attention and approval as their superior. Monsters of his own making that were as starving for blood as they were for the sound of his voice, the authoratative echo of his orders that rattled them to the bone and left them rabid and eager to please and feed and obey the ascendant. The dozens of depraved undead with whom Astarion was always happy to show off his greatest treasure; you.

His darling mate. His sweet little soon-to-be-spawn. His obedient kitten who always does exactly what she's told because she loves being his good girl... even if that means being put in a position that most people would find utterly humiliating.

—————————————

Even when you were stripped almost completely bare and had the thoughts fucked out of your head, Astarion had a way of making you look completely and utterly resplendent.

The collar he’d had made for you early on in your courtship was enchanting: the main body of the collar was lined with the finest silk money could buy (as black as the night you’ll be forced to reside in, of course), so gentle and light against your skin that were it not for the weight of its adornments and the firmness of its metal core it would be all too easy for you to forget it was even there; a dozen strings of pearls were attached to the underside of it, each loop starting and ending about an inch apart and dropping just low enough to tastefully graze the base of your throat when you held your head up straight as he so often instructs you to; at the very centre of the collar, taking its pride of place resting firmly over your jugular, was a brilliantly bright ruby that he’d spent the better part of a year searching for — polished to a perfect shine, sanded until it was the exact shape he had envisioned, and flanked on either side by a half dozen diamonds that he’d had repurposed from the ancient heirloom jewellery inherited by his old master. It was a thing of beauty, and a testament to both the skill of the craftsman he’d hired and the devotion of your beloved Astarion to give you only the best things in life, and as such you never went without it.

The faux-ears he insisted you wear toed the line between elegant and embarrassing: positioned just far enough apart and just close enough to your scalp for them to appear as if they were actually sprouting out from your head at a glance instead of the unnatural, artificial look you’d once associated with such accessories; flexible enough at their core for them to be able to twitch and adjust with an almost natural elegance in response to every movement you made, no matter how small or slow; crafted with so much care that even the fur was a perfect match for the length, texture, and colour of your hair — so uncannily alike that you once found yourself questioning whether your beloved had actually sent the craftsmen a sample of your hair for them to be able to match it so flawlessly. Though when he’s coaxed you deep enough into pet-space you can’t find it in yourself to care much for their presence either way.

The lacy undergarments he’d bought for you were undeniably flattering: as white as the hair atop his head, translucent enough that the flowery detailing did nothing to hide your aching erection from anyone who cared to look between your trembling thighs, delicate enough that you were sure he could tear it straight off of your body without the slightest bit of effort, and now soaked in the front with your pre-cum as he continues to guide your hips along the length of his muscular thigh. Such a shame really, you’d only had this pair for a single day and they were already ruined — you just hoped he’d replace them after he’s had his fill of you for the night.

And though you used to think it was a bit much, the buttplug and the tail attached to it had grown on you over the years — the feeling of being stuffed completely full was just too much for you to ignore… especially now that he had you like this and when he was whispering such wonderfully sinful things against the shell of your ear.

Though, as you had long since descended into the delightfully fuzzy depths of pet-space, you only really managed to catch fleeting fragments of whatever it was he was saying to you. Far too distracted by the dizzying friction of him dragging your hips along his leg and the throbbing ache between your legs as you’re guided closer and closer to climax to focus on anything else — not his voice, not the countless eyes watching you, not anything at all.

‘… good girl…’

‘… keep purring for me, sweet thing,’

‘That’s it darling…’

‘… going to cum, my love?’

‘… beautiful…’

It was almost as if your head were submerged underwater. You couldn’t even hear your own voice anymore, with everything being drowned out by the incessant pounding of your heart and the white hot pleasure bursting through your veins as you were finally given that final push and sent careening into your first climax of the night. Trembling, damn near mewling with bliss, collapsing against him, making a complete mess of him and yourself as your cum splatters against your stomach and onto the expensive fabric of his trousers, and unable to do anything but whine and sob and whimper as your darling ascendant, as cruel as he can be kind, wraps one cold, slender hand around your aching dick and jerks you through the end of your orgasm and straight through to pure overstimulation.

And the crowd of his devoted servants, their presence long since lost to your lust-drunk mind, continue to watch with eager, wanting eyes as their Lord turns the once revered saviour of Baldur’s Gate into a desperate, mindless mess. And none knew whose place of the two they wanted to take more.

[notoriousbeb]

The My Tears Ricochet Deep Dive

While this song obviously has a clear reference to Taylor’s masters being sold to Scooter Braun in November 2019, I don’t think that’s the full story being told here.

When she released Folklore, Taylor shared via Instagram that “My Tears Ricochet” is about an “embittered tormentor showing up at the funeral of his fallen object of obsession.”

Now, why is she fallen? Because her work has been taken from her. Okay, one question answered. ✅

Now, who is the “embittered tormentor obsessed” with Taylor? Scooter Braun, of course…But see, I actually don’t think it’s that simple. I get why that’s the obvious first choice, though.

(Back story for new kids who don’t know why Scoots is trash: In July 2016, Taylor was outcast and called a snake due to a leaked phone call by Kim Kardashian and her then-husband Kanye West. Scooter was Kanye’s manager. Then Kanye put out the video of the song in question from the call—featuring a naked Taylor lookalike. Then Justin Bieber posted that video to Instagram with a photo showing him on a video call with Scooter and Kanye. The caption said, “Taylor Swift what up.” So, they’re all three supreme douche-canoes of the highest order).

However, I think Scooter’s top priority (as always) in buying Taylor’s masters was simply to make money. And if he pissed her off while doing so, that was probably a delightful bonus. But I wouldn’t say he bought her masters because he was obsessed with her. This deal was nearly three years later, and nothing had popped off between the camps in the interim.

I have more on this tormentor/obsessor/muse, concept; but first, back to Folklore. Upon its release, Taylor also revealed in a YouTube livechat that it was the first song she wrote for the album. And that leads me into a bit of timing discussion.

I think Folklore was the result of a few seismic events in Taylor’s life: a run-in with Harry at Ed’s wedding in December 2018 (which I think helped to spawn his second solo album, Fine Line); followed by talking to him during early quarantine in March 2020 in Los Angeles when the Lover tour got postponed and then cancelled; the pandemic itself pushing her, like many of us, into some serious introspection; and, of course, the sale of her masters to Scooter in 2019.

Since this is the very first song Taylor wrote that ended up on Folklore, my speculation is that perhaps it was penned in those first couple of days of the pandemic, before she reconnected with Harry in LA.

Fine Line would have been newly released—just three months prior—and on her birthday no less.

Which leads me back to the tormentor and obsessor. You know what I might find tormenting, if I were Taylor? If I’d been waiting for this one guy to grow the fuck up for years and then (perhaps after we ran into each other at our good friends’ wedding?), he confessed to me that he still wanted me but, even at 25, he still didn’t have his shit together (please see, “Renegade,” “To Be So Lonely,” and “Peter”).

Then, after I piece myself back together following snake gate, some epic twat who bullied me online back then buys my work out from under me from the guy I thought I had a good working relationship with (Scott Borchetta) and while I’m dealing with that bullshit my ex I’m still pining for releases album on my birthday with songs seemingly about us and how he still wants me.

Yeah, that’d have me plenty tormented. And feeling like, since his first album was also quite “a tip of the cap” to me (his words) as well that, yeah, someone was a little obsessed with me.

So, anyway, the lyrics:

We gather here, we line up, weepin' in a sunlit room And if I'm on fire, you'll be made of ashes, too

We open at the funeral Taylor told us about. Then referencing a potential cremation. If she’s burning, so is he. Because they’re twin flames? Because they’re so close?

Even on my worst day, did I deserve, babe All the hell you gave me? 'Cause I loved you, I swear I loved you ‘Til my dying day

Does this sound like someone talking to either a bully or a former business associate? To me it sounds like a very messy, very difficult, former lover.

I didn't have it in myself to go with grace And you're the hero flying around, saving face And if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake Cursing my name, wishing I stayed Look at how my tears ricochet

I can see how people could think this was about Scott, but not Scooter. But T herself said this whole thing was about one muse: The embittered obsessor attending her funeral.

Anyway, my take: it’s a lover she couldn’t let go of easily, so it ended messy.

And now he’s out promoting an album full of songs about them, pretending it’s not, because he’s a gentleman. But while he’s acting like she’s nothing to him, they both know what he said to her in private, and what those songs are really about, and no matter how much she cries and waits and wants him to grow up and come get her he just can’t — or won’t.

We gather stones, never knowing what they'll means Some to throw, some to make a diamond ring

This is a Biblical allusion to Ecclesiastes 3:5: “A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.” I think she’s referring here to an idea revisited again in “loml,” that she thought she’d be safer and maybe get the life she wanted with someone more stable, versus being in a relationship that left her starry eyed, like she was with Harry…and that’s how she wound up with Joe for six years.

You know I didn't want to have to haunt you But what a ghostly scene

Ah, would it really be a Haylor lyric breakdown if we weren’t talking about ghosts and haunting at some point? 👻 They obviously haunt one another because they can’t shut up about each other. (Not that I’m complaining!)

Two Ghosts: “We're just two ghosts swimming in a glass half empty.” ....Ready for it?: “Wonder how many girls he loved and left haunted.” Cardigan: “I knew you'd haunt all of my what-ifs.”

You wear the same jewels that I gave you As you bury me

Even while doing the press for Fine Line, H was wearing her ring. Should we talk some more about the Haylor ring? Or burying and graves? Nah. I think these posts sum it up very well.

I didn't have it in myself to go with grace 'Cause when I'd fight, you used to tell me I was brave And if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake Cursing my name, wishing I stayed Look at how my tears ricochet

I think these lines could be a reference both to things he’s said to her and in his songs about her, particularly the pointed ones. “Lights Up,” for one, which to me, reads like an argumentative back-and-forth about why must things change in a relationship against the backdrop of fame. It also seems to include a tie to “Peter” with “I’m never coming back down,” as compared to “I didn’t want to come down.”

And I can go anywhere I want Anywhere I want, just not home And you can aim for my heart, go for blood But you would still miss me in your bones

And where is home in this case—and so many others? Each other.

And I still talk to you When I'm screaming at the sky And when you can't sleep at night You hear my stolen lullabies

I imagine this is her picturing him listening to her old albums, as she hadn’t done her rerecords yet. Also, again, doesn’t this all seem a bit…intimate and dramatic for a business relationship? Like, picture this moment in the Eras Tour in your mind, please, and tell me with a straight face that you’d sing like this for your former boss. It certainly doesn’t seem like anything you’d say to someone like Scooter. Why would she ever want to talk to him at all?

I didn't have it in myself to go with grace And so the battleships will sink beneath the waves You had to kill me, but it killed you just the same Cursing my name, wishing I stayed You turned into your worst fears And you're tossing out blame, drunk on this pain Crossing out the good years And you're cursing my name, wishing I stayed Look at how my tears ricochet

So, this is where we get into the “embittered” part of Taylor’s original description of the song’s muse—the person visiting her funeral. Why is he bitter? Because he lost her. She didn’t stay. Perhaps because his own bad behavior pushed her away. “All the light couldn’t put out the dark running through my heart?” “I know you were way too bright for me. I’m hopeless, broken.” Also, and again, please see, “Renegade,” and “To Be So Lonely,” and “Peter” and also “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus.”

[queerasaurus-rexx]

Dreamlight Valley Tips I Wish I Knew Before Playing

UNLOCK SCAR'S QUESTS BEFORE MINNIE'S LEVEL 10 QUEST DIGGING UP THE BONES IN SUNLIT PLATEAU GIVES SO MUCH CLAY

save the snow from elsa's quests. you will need it.

idk if it's just me, but when you start getting low on shards and the dig sites don't seem to be spawning, put the shards from you inventory into your home chest. it seems to trigger at least a few more dig sites.

hoard lemons or cocoa beans in your inventory. they give you 400 energy each and you only need to munch on a handful to replenish your energy.

level up goofy's stalls as soon as you can

spam gift flowers to level up faster. not only are they everywhere, they respawn quickly and cost nothing.

just look up the recipe online. it's fine.

serve. meals. at. remy's. oh my god.

turn the space beside your house into a garden. you'll need it.

do the daily discussions

[merrylament]

Hi! How you get Jack in Disney dreamlight valley? I’ve unlocked the forgotten lands but I haven’t found a way to find him

Hello Anon, hope you're well! :)

Okay, I feel you, I had some trouble initially too so I'll give you a hand.

Since Jack is part of a free update, you should just get the quest 'Something Comes A'Knocking' after updating the game and booting it up.

I'm going to put the rest under the cut because if others would like to figure this out for themselves and not be spoiled I want to respect that, so, spoilers under the cut!!

I found a little Matryoshka Dolly on the Plazza in front of the steps to the fountain and I knew something was up. SO.

The first dolly can be found anywhere around the Plazza area but I've read that it's more likely to spawn:

Just outside the player's house. 🏠

Near the stairs leading to Peaceful Meadow. 🌳

'Directly east of the fountain' ⛲

And,

Behind or in front of Scrooge's store. 💵

Take her to Merlin and he'll give you the rundown.

While you're here, I'll give you some tips on the locations of the other dolls.

The second, third and fourth Dolls can be found in basically any of the other Biomes so just embrace your inner magpie and look for sparkly things! ✨

According to this guide though, the Dolls are more likely to spawn near landmarks like:

WALL-E's Garden. 🌱

Moana's Boat. ⛵

Bridges in Sunlit Plateau. 🌞

The cave where Olaf is found in Frosted Heights during 'The Great Blizzard' quest. ⛄

And,

The huge tree we locked Mama Gothel in all that time ago. (lol)

Since you've unlocked the Forgotten Lands Biome, you'll be able to get to the Pumpkin Tree. (yay, nice one! :D)

And this is where I struggled because it's basically a very long, thin tree that they've hidden somewhere around Forgotten Lands and mine spawned like... You know the waterfall in Sunlit Plateau? How you can see the top/back of it from the Forgotten Lands? Well, it spawned there and took me an age to find because I was impatient so... Maybe check there first lol.

I also couldn't interact with it and apparently it's a little bug for quite a few people at the moment. Luckily you can just use F and move the tree like a piece of furniture to gain access to the door and there you go!

Now you need to feed it the Matryoshka Dolls to unlock the door and summon our Skeleton Overlord.

Jack's house will cost you 5000 Star Coins to construct.

Hope you have lots of fun with Jack in your Valley!! (send me some screenshots!! or don't. just have fun!!) 🖤 :)

[thepiecesofcait]

Astarion was revealing some Very Serious Backstory in the Sunlit Wetlands and I could not stop laughing at the swarm of butterflies fluttering around the screen as he did so.

I am not immune to the sassy vampire spawn.

[xenonsreturn]

Jig Of Life

Can't you see where memories are kept bright?

Tripping on the water like a laughing girl.

Time in her eyes is spawning past life,

One with the ocean and the woman unfurled,

Holding all the love that waits for you here.

Catch us now for I am your future.

A kiss on the wind and we'll make the land.

Come over here to where When lingers,

Waiting in this empty world,

Waiting for Then, when the lifespray cools.

For Now does ride in on the curl of the wave,

And you will dance with me in the sunlit pools.

We are of the going water and the gone.

We are of water in the holy land of water

And all that's to come runs in

With the thrust on the strand.

[simstryingtheirbestok]

I thought she was a goner, and I was so upset. But Carlos--Carlos was utterly devastated. He immediately spawned a wish to Resurrect Undine.

No need, Carlos. Undine is on it.

I gave her that Death Flower ages and ages ago--not quite back in Sunlit Tides, I don't think, but very shortly after they moved to Hidden Springs. Carlos has one, too, and I think Tierney does as well. I wanted some insurance.

But I'd completely forgotten about all that. Undine's inventory is always a wreck, thanks to her dabbling in Alchemy, taking up painting, helping with the harvest, and collecting relics. It's all I can do to find her Multitab or her umbrella in there.

Once Grim departed, Carlos went straight to Undine's side.

Eternally Faithful, all right.

Then they both took the Fireproof Homestead reward. We're not chancing another narrow escape like this one.

[iamjucie]

Do you have a song that is your personal Astarion anthem? I have a few for each of the "Astarions." These are mine, but I'm curious to hear yours! Leave a comment with it/them.

Pre-canon Spawn Astarion:

"Dead Arms & Dead Legs" by Eliot Sumner

"I occupy these feet with these dead arms and these dead legs The brambles catch and tighten and they pull me into bed This is no retaliation, this is the universe I imagine myself walking here 5 million years before"

"Maniac" by Phoebe Green

"You play girls like a man, but your eyes are like a child Your face is cool and calm but your hair is wrecked and wild You hide behind your metaphors and pray that no one sees The fare behind your poker face, your dark and twisted needs"

"rises the moon" Liana Flores

"Days seem sometimes as if they'll never end Sun digs its heels to taunt you But after sunlit days, one thing stays the same Rises the moon"

In-game Spawn Astarion:

"Flawless Execution" Pierce the Veil:

"Please stop, don't worry I can be your freak I will scar you with my Flawless execution every time"

"Tongues and Teeth" The Crane Wives:

"And I know that you mean so well But I am not a vessel for your good intent I will only break your pretty things I will only wring you dry of everything And if you're fine with that You can be mine like that"

"Body" Grandma's House:

"You do not recognize the bodies in the water You do not know their face, their face I do not know the body I was born with I do not recognize my face, my face, my face"

Ascended Astarion:

"You've Created a Monster" Bohnes:

"Breathe in, now the prey becomes the hunter Screamin', raise the dead and bring the thunder You've created a monster I just keep getting stronger Nightmare, I'm gonna haunt you You've created a monster"

"This is Love" Air Traffic Controller:

"I've got no shame, got no pride Only skeletons to hide And if you try to talk to someone Well, then someone has to die Once you chase me down the hole Yeah, once you think you're in control You'll believe that we are partners And you're feeling comfortable Oh, then the darkness rolls in And you'll forget who I have been But you'll love, love, love it, this is love"

"God Complex" VIOLENT VIRA:

"I wanna be the true savior The one with a terrible demise I wanna be the Messiah, pariah The one who never dies I wanna be your true love Yes and the only one You could cry to all the time I could just be who you need Darling won't you just plead Or should I begin to bleed?"

I have three separate playlists for each Astarion "Variant" that I've put a lot of time and effort into, and continue to refine. I will link them if you are looking for a good Astarion playlist!

Happy listening!! I can’t wait to hear what songs make you think of Astarion!♥️🩸🦇

[seashellblue]

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Part 7)

Currently continuing to clear out my Google Drive to make way for the new (catch me side-eyeing the Solarpunk and Isekai genres lol). with all these unused ideas just floating around, I'm keeping at posting them here.

Maybe just so I can reference back to them in time, but possibly so someone else can use them. Click here if you want more thoughts on the matter.

Story under the cut ~

Alright, part two of two for The Undertow, featuring some godly lore and a design guide for Undertow-style Mer.

It'll become pretty clear that I only got as far as fleshing out the sea-gods, as I don't have anything for the other pantheons except for names.

And yes, they are all acronyms.

Godly lore below:

Sea-Gods

Caeon - The Cradle Creation, Life, The Ocean, Mer

When the world was young, there was Caeon and Esa. While it was Esa that grew dissatisfied with the empty world, it was Caeon that changed it. He found the deepest crevice, and within it created a spring that spilled forth clean water, filling every canyon and cavern. When he was done, he found that in the eddies and currents new Gods had spawned. He watched as these young Gods brought forth animals, plants and created domains beyond his wildest imaginations. When all was said and done though, the Gods realized that something was missing, and pooled their power to create the Mer, a people who could follow in their footsteps. Caeon is ever proud of the Mer, he considers them his children and always acts in their best interests, and is more than willing to intervene should they be threatened. Caeon resides deep below the surface, watching his first creation, the Font of Life, which supposedly also functions as a portal to the afterlife. Caeon himself is a living ocean current that glows with divine power, within one can see an endless glowing reef under a sunlit sky, and the pieces of water that float off his form are said to be the souls of unborn Mer.

Esa - The Glory/The Legacy Sea Storms, Greatness, Sharks, Legends

It was Esa that brought forth the idea of creation into Caeon’s head. It was Esa that spearheaded the creation of the Mer. And it is Esa who is never satisfied. While Caeon symbolized water life-giving aspects, Esa represents its roiling and capricious nature. Esa is immensely proud of each and every one of her children, but in her mind there is no worse fate than to become stagnant in mind and body, never reaching one’s full potential. It is because of that Esa sends her violent storms and dangerous creatures, so that the Mer may be tested and succeed. Unlike Caeon, who remains watching over the font of life, Esa is always moving. Many Mer have described a traveler arriving on their doorstep during a particularly bad storm, and many believe this to be Esa hiding in Mer form, eager to judge her children’s generosity. Esa is said to appear in many forms, when carrying out her secret tests, Esa often takes the form of a downtrodden Mer desperately asking for aid. When not hiding her true nature, Esa often swims in the form of a massive shark, with remoras that are said to be the souls of heroic mortals that won her favor.

Bahret - The Lifeblood Civilization, Intrigue, History, Materialism

Unlike the other Gods, who are content to guide or watch from afar, Bahret loves to be in the thick of Mer politics and intrigue, ruling over a kingdom of her own creation. One might think a kingdom ruled by a God would be unstoppable, but Bahret purposefully limits herself to learning and gaining wealth the hard way, along with starting over if a Mer can successfully harm her in any way that would kill a normal mortal ruler. However, this choice doesn’t come from an admiration for fairness, but rather a desire for a little bit of a challenge in her political game. Despite being quite materialistic and a little frivolous, she does have the best interests of the Mer and her subjects at heart, though she does look at them with a deal of contempt, believing that sometimes she knows what’s best for them better than they do. Bahret has ruled over the same kingdom since the beginning of complex civilization, over time turning it into a city with towers of gold and palace spires taller than many mountains, excluding the occasional dark age or two. Bahret’s kingdom has always been a hub of art and learning, as the one exception to her self-imposed restrictions is to preserve culturally significant artifacts. Bahret’s preferred form when ruling is that of a crimson Mer, wreathed in the wealth of her kingdom and always surrounded by her entourage, though when at festivals she often changes forms to those of extravagant and gaudy sea creatures.

Petrian - The Reef Artist/The Dead Desert God Art, Colour, Coral Reefs, Tropical Fish

Petrian would have never been a powerful God, although he had his alliances and rivalries, a camaraderie with Elos as lovers of colour and style, a contest with Ceilgar over who could create the greatest sculpture, he was never extraordinary, except for one thing. Of all the Gods, Petrian gave the Mer the greatest gift, Petrian created a series of patterns that would let them tap into a magic similar to the Gods, it is because of this gift, the Markings, that Renis directed her hatred towards him in particular. They say that when Renis ripped out his heart, she ripped out her own as well, so that she would never have to feel guilt for what she’d done, and hid the two in the center of her labyrinth, always under the watchful gaze of her darkened eyes. In life, Petrian preferred the form of a tropical fish, though which kind often changed based on his mood. He would often swim among schools of other fish, claiming that watching the patterns helped to focus his mind and hone his creative edge. Petrian had no permanent home, but didn’t travel constantly either, choosing to stay wherever brought him the most inspiration. His heartless corpse now lies in the middle of a barren desert, poisoning a once beautiful oasis with wretched, blackened water.

Lotrivi - The Poisonous Watcher Poison, Pragmatism, Spies, Kelp

Lotrivi was the first of the Gods born of the shifting currents of the newly-created oceans, and looked upon the world with an analytical interest, and saw in it an inherent unfairness. The world was dominated by creatures that were the physically strongest, while the fragile and clever had to hide and cower. In order to balance the scales, Lotrivi gifted a power that would level the playing field, poison. With it, even the smallest snail could defeat the mightiest shark. Lotrivi has little to no contact with the Mer, believing that intervening would give the Mer an unfair advantage. They had their minds and their wit, if they were meant to thrive, they wouldn’t need his help to do so. Lotrivi prefered state of a colossal leafy seadragon, which suits him well, as he often wishes to be left to his own devices. Hidden amongst his frills are many spines connected to a poison that glows a bright toxic green. It’s said that one drop can fell even the mightiest whales, and yet also cure any illness. Lotrivi’s domain is a massive kelp forest spanning several miles. And the twisting cave networks underneath. Each night the kelp glows with magic light, particularly the pneumatocysts. Hiding between the blades of the seaweed are countless poisonous creatures, and while the various lionfish and sea urchins are not hostile, they still make traversal in the region difficult.

Elos - Thousand-Forms Cephalopods, Shapeshifting, Trickery, Wanderers

The God of tricksters, shapechangers, and their own Cephalopod variant of the Mer, Elos spend their time getting into trouble, and playing pranks that perhaps only they find funny. Although Elos is always up for an escapade, they never act maliciously, should things get out of hand, they’ll be the first to drop the act, a joke isn’t funny if someone gets hurt. There is only one circumstance in which Elos’ jovial nature fades away, and that is of the mention of anything to do with Renis. Of all the Gods, Elos was closest to Petrian, together they were the ones that painted the nascent world with colour and oddity, Elos will take any opportunity to foil Renis in any of her schemes. Like Esa, Elos travels far and wide, always on the lookout for young mischief makers to bless, and festivals to crash. One of the more down to earth Gods, Elos love to revel amongst mortals, while leaving behind a practical joke or two. Elos takes many forms, whichever is required for their tricks, but when speaking to Mer they often choose to mirror the form of whichever mortal they’re speaking to, prioritizing changing to a Elosian Mer if they’re speaking to a group.

Ceilgar - Bones Of The Ocean Ice, Isolation, Arctic Creatures, Sculpture

Before her exile, Renis was no hermit, she had her rivals and friends, and she was closer to none more than Ceilgar. Together the two Gods traveled across the oceans, marveling at their creation, and Renis cheering from the sidelines whenever Ceilgar challenged Petrian as to who was the greatest sculptor. Sadly this bond between Gods was ripped apart over the subject of the Mer. After their falling out, Ceilgar isolated herself in the glaciers of the northern oceans, even further so when Renis killed Petrian, as Ceilgar blames herself for not trying harder to change Renis’ mind and instead giving up on her lifelong friend. In the aftermath of her clash with Renis and the death of Petrian, Ceilgar turned her beautiful palace into an impenetrable citadel, inside of which she laments over what she could or should have done to save her friend. The few who have entered the frozen fortress claim that elements of its previous rendition remain in the form of beautiful statues carved from ice. On the occasion Ceilgar leaves her ice castle to survey her icy domain, she does so in the form of a massive polar bear, one of her most beloved creations. When speaking to Mortals, she often chooses to do so in the halls of her citadel, taking the form of a vaguely humanoid figure made of ice.

Vaal - The Sun Of The Sea Bravery, Eclipses, Sea Slugs, Heroism

Acts of daring and strength were Vaal’s expertise. Diving off the highest sea cliffs and outswimming orca pods just for fun. It was when Renis betrayed the rest of the Gods, and took out her frustrations on the Mer people, forcing them to hide in the deepest trenches to avoid her wrath, that Vaal devised his greatest feat. With Cosmirn running interference, Vaal stole shards of the sun, and brought them deep below the sea so that the Mer could have light and warmth so far from the ocean’s surface, inadvertently creating the eclipse. Although he was largely successful, Renis struck him down with a spear of dark magic before the final sunshard was set into place, causing it to explode and gravely injuring Vaal. While he did recover, rumors say that the combination of fire and darkness weakens his heart to this day, turning bravery to fear. Like Lotrivi, Vaal resides in a towering kelp forest, in fact, Vaal’s domain is quite close to Lotrivi’s and they speak often, supposedly. Unlike Lotrivi’s territory, Vaal’s contains fewer poisonous inhabitants, but does have a volcanic element to the south. While Vaal now spends his time in his domain, he once also traveled the seas, testing himself against mortal Mer. When interacting with Mer or showing off in contests and challenges, Vaal prefers a Mer form wreathed in fiery markings. When resting however, Vaal often chooses the form of a giant nudibranch coloured like a fiery sunset. Mer who’ve met him have reported a strange black scar over his heart, regardless of the form he picks.

Cosmirn - Clarity Of Whispers Secrets, Camouflage, Jellyfish, Obscurity

Cosmirn is a secretive being, content simply collecting information and observing discreetly. Little is known of Cosmirn, but their most well-known legend takes place after Renis’ banishment. When Vaal stole the Sunshards from the sky, Cosmirn was the one who distracted Renis, making sure she couldn’t interfere with their transference to the deep sea. Because of this, Renis laid a curse upon them, that over time would cause them to wither away, thankfully, Cosmirn had a trick up their sleeve. Since the curse was keyed to their name and personality, they switched names with their closest ally, who at the time was Cosmirn, but is now known as Bahret. Still, in modern day, Cosmirn still keeps a low profile, hesitant of once again incurring the Sky Witch’s wrath. Cosmirn has several hideouts throughout the land, each relatively unassuming, nothing particularly eye-catching, but also enough to live in comfort. Many Mer trying to escape their pasts have traveled to these safe houses, leading each to have a small colony surrounding them, though many believe Cosmirn has yet more secret hiding places kept only to themself. Cosmirn prefers to take the form of obscure sea creatures, many of which were their own creation. They also prefer transparent creatures or ones with camouflage capabilities. When speaking to Mer however, they usually take the form of the more well-known jellyfish.

Renis - The Witch Of Sky And Song Pre-Exile, Magic, The Water’s Surface, Sunsets, Sea Birds Post-Exile, Betrayal, Murder, Manipulation, Cruel Magic

There are kind Gods who aid the Mer at every opportunity, and there are Gods who don’t care for the Mer, but respect them as their own beings. And then there is Renis. When the Gods came together to create the Mer, Renis refused, believing that the Mer had no right to exist in a world they did nothing to help create. When the Gods went ahead with their design regardless, Renis was enraged, and took out her anger on the God Petrian, ripping out his heart, and leaving his body in a desert, creating a pool of blackened and poisonous water. In retaliation the remaining Gods cursed the once-beautiful Renis, turning her into a winged monster who could not breathe the lifewater Esa and Caeon had created. In the aftermath of her banishment from all the world’s oceans, Renis took to a seemingly beautiful tropical island, but underground lies a labyrinth in which Renis traps and tortures her Mer victims using her still beautiful voice, alongside a cult of fanatics known as the Red Tide. Before her exile, Renis was beautiful in a way that only a God could be, but her most prominent trait, aside from her otherworldly beauty, was her wings, vibrant red like the evening sun. After her banishment she fell into disarray, her mix of avian and piscine features meeting in the most vile ways possible, and her eyes and mouth constantly leaking an oily black substance that chokes the water.

Sky-Gods

Syk - Sky

Rai - Winds

Ralos - Sun

Ralun - Moon

Hadet - Death

Cenda - Dancing

Cencylo - Storm

Denthur - Music

Tisujec  - Justice

Sand-Gods

D’san - Sand

Serdet - Deserts

Yenrujo - Traveling

Tescin - Insects

Dyr - Drought

Serauret - Wealth

Telbat - War

Telbris - Fire

Lehaetula - Snakes

Montret  - Pain

Soil-Gods

Sonet - Stone

Osil - Earth

Perithocra - Bats

Nrio - Metal

Chioce - Caves

Nethur - Hunting

Inyk - Writing

Dondiam - Jewels

Feli - Life

Adroe - Love

Mer Types

Ba Lyssa - Trench Fish (Ex. Monkfish, Barreleye Fish, Viperfish)

Horizontal tail fin

Two sets of fins, pectoral attach at the wrist, pelvic attach at the hypothetical hip

Bioluminescent

Two sets of gills, neck and chest

Cioralt - Reef Fish (Clownfish, Mahi-Mahi, Tangs)

Horizontal tail fin

Two sets of fins, pectoral attach at the wrist, pelvic attach at the hypothetical hip

Colourful

Two sets of gills, neck and chest

Elosian - Cephalopods (Blue-Ringed Octopuses, Firefly Squid, Cuttlefish)

Tentacles, arm do add to appendage total (octopuses have eight fins - two arms, octopus Elosian Mer would have six tentacles)

If present, fins attached at the shoulder blade 

Produce ink

Camouflage capabilities

Euselachii - Sharks And Rays (Numbfish, Mako Shark, Goblin Shark)

Horizontal tail fin

Two sets of fins, pectoral attach at the wrist, pelvic attach at the hypothetical hip

Two sets of gills, neck and chest

Stinger, if present

Nepo Caeonic - Open Ocean Fish (Swordfish, Tuna, Barracuda)

Horizontal tail fin

Two sets of fins, pectoral attach at the wrist, pelvic attach at the hypothetical hip

Two sets of gills, neck and chest

Sleek builds

Sele - Eels (Gulper Eels, Moray Eels, Cutthroat Eels)

1-2 sets of fins, pectoral fins, if present, are at the wrist, caudal fin (tail) goes horizontal up to the hip

Two sets of gills, neck and chest

Sometimes have a pharyngeal jaw

[captchalure]

alpha and omega.

 The beginning and the end.

In the New Testament Book of Revelation , God says, “I am Alpha and Omega,” meaning that he is the beginning and end of all things. In the Greek alphabet, alpha is the first letter and omega is the last.