#the pale elf has me in a CHOKEHOLD

[dragon--sage]

okay i know astarion can potentially drain the mc to the point of death if they allow him to drink from them... BUT the persuasion check they have to pass to convince astarion to stop is only 5.

yeah it's higher than say a 2 but i still think this number is CRAZY LOW for a vampiric spawn who has been starved for centuries and has subsisted solely on the blood of vermin ever since he was turned. like this was his FIRST drink of PEOPLE blood, and all mc has to do basically is ask him nicely to stop. sorry to the people who failed the check OBVIOUSLY and this isn't saying it's not fucked up that he killed some of y'all (or that i wouldn't be annoyed if i ever fail and he kills my mc lmao). i'm just saying.. it's a REALLY low number for someone who's been starved and abused for so long, and is driven out of their mind w/ painful cravings every second of the day.

honestly i feel like it speaks to the little crack in astarion's emotional armor, and the tiny kernel of goodness beneath it that cazador couldn't crush.

[mslanna]

how it started

how it's going

[what-is-it-to-be-pk-esque]

ok so i'm drinking and thinking

i'm gonna do 5 origin runs where i romance astarion, and... 9 runs as astarion where I romance everyone else to see their romances (+ maybe one either as him or tav romancing no one)?? plus i already did a regular tav romancing him, am in the middle of a redeem durge romancing him, and plan to do an evil durge romancing him... so I'll have played this game 12 times by the time i'm done with it??

Larian wtf have you done to me

[charmandabear]

11. Astarion x Reader 👀

We're not going to worry about how long it'll take me to answer these. We're not going to talk about it. Listen, I'm trying so hard to not make these into whole things, I just want to treat them like writing exercises, but I physically can't not finish smut once it's started.

From @astarionfreak's smut ask game ~ other entries

11. "I touched myself last night thinking about you." "I know."

Tags/Warnings: reader isn't gendered but has a vulva, blood/blood drinking, p in v sex, somewhat rough sex (reader gets a little feral in this one)

You're not subtle about it at all.

Every time he catches you staring, you quickly turn your head. At one point you even just shift your eyes, trying to pretend you're looking at something behind him. But there's no way he isn't at least a little suspicious.

Since the night you let Astarion bite you, the tension between the two of you has been palpable. Something about having him pressed down on top of you, his lips on your neck and his hand cradling your neck in a way that was disproportionately gentle set something on fire inside you. You really thought that you could just get over your little crush if you got it out of your system. Sate the need and you could go back to just being friends... Or whatever you are with him.

But it had the opposite effect. Now, his very presence turns you on. The wind catches his scent and you instinctively press your thighs together. He grins after making some sassy remark to Gale, and the glint of his fangs in the light makes your mouth go dry. You even need to suppress a moan when he gets a particularly impressive kill. You really hope no one heard that one.

So now, sitting around the campfire with the rest of your companions, you're just trying desperately to appear normal. You laugh absentmindedly at whatever joke Karlach just made while in your mind, Astarion's railing you up against a tree. It's only when you realize that Wyll has been trying to ask you a question for the past 90 seconds that you know you're too far gone to be in polite company.

"Sorry, I'm just a little out of it, long day," you make the excuse lamely. "I'm going to turn in a little early, I've got a bit of a headache."

"Do you want something for it?" Shadowheart asks with a frown. "I've got some herbal remedies that might help."

"I'm fine, I think I just need some rest." You force a smile onto your face. "'Night, all." You walk back to your tent stiffly, speeding up to cover the last few meters quickly. Your breath wracks through your body and your blood pounds in your ears. You've never - never - gotten this worked up over another person, never mind a man. Honestly, he's not even really your usual type, you'd normally be much more likely to pursue someone like Shadowheart. But she so clearly has a thing for Karlach, and that's not something you'd want to get in the way of.

But this pale, devastatingly handsome vampire elf has your desire in a chokehold.

You light a lantern inside your tent and take out your journal to sketch. You try to conjure some of the imagery you saw today to keep your brain off Astarion. Scratch and the owlbear cub playing. The terrifying harpies that almost lured one of the tiefling children. Astarion's blade dripping with harpy blood while his bright red eyes sparkle with mischief and the thrill of he kill.

Fucking hells.

You eventually put your journal away and lay down on your bedroll, staring at the ceiling of your tent while the others continue to chat and laugh outside. You listen to their conversation die down, their goodnights, and finally the distant sound of crickets and other nighttime fauna. Your eyes start to grow heavy, or at the very least bored of looking at the support rods in your tent.

You only realize that you've drifted to sleep when you're startled awake by a soft tapping on the canvas flap that separates you from the rest of camp.

"Y-yes?" Your voice is shakier than you'd like, although it's not like a vicious creature would politely knock on your makeshift door. The flap lifts up to reveal the literal last person you'd like to see right now.

"Hello, darling," Astarion grins in that irresistible way that he does. "I wanted to check in on our fearless leader. You've seemed dreadfully jumpy all day."

"Oh! Um." You can feel the heat rising in your cheeks. "I'm.. fine. Thank you, Astarion." You nod your head in a gesture of dismissal, but he doesn't move.

"Are you sure? You're positively flushed." His smile suggests he knows more than he's letting on. You chew on your lower lip to distract you from the growing ache between your legs.

"I'm perfectly fine, Astarion, thank you. Good night." You reach to close the tent flap but he holds onto it. Your fingers brush against his and it's like a jolt of lightning passes between your hands.

"I'm not buying it," he hums, dropping his voice. He pushes his way into your tent and you scramble backwards. The last thing you need is for him to touch you - you might not be able to control yourself if he does. "Now tell me, what's had you so hot and bothered all day?"

"N-nothing," you stammer, wishing you could just disappear on the spot. He raises an eyebrow and you backpedal. "Well, fine, I think something Gale cooked isn't sitting quite right with me. I was... embarrassed." The lie rings hollow even to you.

"Come now, love, we both know you're a terrible liar." He crawls towards you on his knees, a predator stalking his prey. Your breath catches in your throat. "Do you have something you need to confess?"

You're trapped. You've run out of room in the tent to back away, and Astarion has all but crawled on top of you. His scent is intoxicating and his eyes gleam in the low light. The words tumble out of your mouth before you can stop them.

"I touched myself last night thinking about you."

"I know." The grin that curls across his face is fiendish. Your heart threatens to beat out of your chest.

"You know?" Then you gasp suddenly. "The tadpole..."

Astarion lets out a bark of a laugh, loud enough that you're worried it might wake your other companions. "Darling, I didn't need a tadpole to figure that one out. Like I said, you're a terrible liar." He nudges his knee closer to the apex of your legs and you can feel your arousal making your underclothes wet. "What I want to know is, how did you picture me? My head between your legs? Did I have you on all fours in the forest? Or..." His lips ghost against yours now and your head feels dizzy with lust. "Or perhaps I had you pinned down in this very tent, taking my time as I had my way with you?"

Your instincts take over and you close the minimal distance between you, pulling him down on top of you as you ravage his lips. You claw at his clothing, no longer interested in maintaining decorum. He tears at the laces of your breeches, pulling them down below your hips and exposing your dripping cunt to the open air. A cry rips through your throat as he licks a thick stripe up your slit, and his chuckle rumbles deep in his chest. He pulls up on his knees and grins down at you, open and wanton, as he slips out of his pants.

"So very eager," he hums as he frees his cock, engorged and already dripping. A shudder runs through you as you see it, and you yank on his shirt and pull him down to meet you. You kiss him roughly, catching his lower lip in your teeth as you hook your leg around his waist.

"Shut the fuck up and fuck me, Astarion," you hiss through gritted teeth, and you groan loudly when he easily sinks in up to his base.

"Someone wants the whole of camp to hear," he growls in your ear as he begins to slowly thrust into you.

"Then you better make it quick so we don't wake them," you snarl in response, all pretenses having vanished. You tangle your fingers into his hair and press his face to your neck. You feel his lips stretch into a smile just before he sinks his fangs into you, the icy shard of pain melting into the heat of his mouth warming with your blood.

You jut your hips up into him, desperately chasing your release as he drinks his fill. He fucks into you, hard and messy, and before long you're feeling the pressure building in your core.

"Gods, Astarion, don't stop," you gasp hungrily in his ear, and he increases his pace to a punishing rhythm. You're starting to grow faint from blood loss just as your orgasm comes crashing down on you. Your walls clench and shudder around his length and he tears his mouth away from your neck, his expression wild and bloody. A few more broken ruts and you can feel him spilling inside you, the feeling his pulsing cock prolonging your own climax.

The two of you eventually still, covered in a sheen of sweat and panting heavily. Your ears strain to hear if there has been any disturbance in camp to indicate that your other companions heard anything. Outside your tent remains, thankfully, silent.

"Well then," Astarion exhales quickly as he slides out of you. "Darling, if it's going to be like that, then you just need to invite me next time."

[awkwardauthorwrites]

What If (You Were Made For Me)

Word Count: 6.2k

Themes: pining, angst if you squint, two idiots in love, fluff

Summary: Halsin realises he’s in love with his best friend, Tav

Warnings: brief mentions of alcohol. Like one swear word. I almost made myself cry writing this. 

(I haven’t written since The Devil Doesn’t Bargain, please be nice. BG3 and specifically this druid has me in a chokehold, your honour I love this man, I am feral for him, he consumes my every waking and sleeping thought)

Halsin watched Tav from across the campfire, his brow furrowed as she spoke to Astarion with a smile on her face. She had been avoiding him recently and no matter how hard he wracked his brain, he couldn’t seem to put a finger on why. It had started small, with going on supply runs with anyone except for him until she gradually stopped training with him, she steered clear of his favourite parts of camp, and eventually it built up to her making excuses to not spend any more time with him than completely necessary. The explanations she gave always sounded sincere, but it had all been happening for weeks, and now there she was, sitting on the opposite end of the campfire instead of next to him and laughing and talking with Astarion.

He felt himself begin to frown as Tav gave Astarion a playful shove, a laugh escaping her as the rogue tried to wrap an arm around her shoulders to pull her back in. He watched with bated breath as Tav’s eyes lit up when Astarion held his hand out in front of her again, slowly showing her how he twirled a coin in between his fingers and how to make it look like it disappeared with a flourish. Halsin couldn’t understand it - it felt like only a few weeks ago that Tav and Astarion had regarded each other with cool indifference, but ever since the days they took to recuperate she had practically been glued to the rogue’s side.  Tav took the coin from Astarion and attempted the sleight of hand herself, her face one of pure concentration. She made it to the final turn of the coin before she fumbled it and it slipped from her grasp, a low groan slipping from her as it fell to the floor.

Halsin didn’t want to admit how he was feeling as he watched them interact, but he hated it. His chest felt tight and his gut rolled with anger and jealousy. Especially when Astarion leant in to murmur something in Tav’s ear, his voice too low for Halsin to hear what he had said to make her face flush the most delicate shade of pink. She laughed again and shook her head, her nose wrinkling the way it did when she found something unbelievable. She nudged Astarion again, softer this time as he scoffed and stood up, stretching her arms above her head as she let the pale elf know she would be right back before she wandered into the treeline. Halsin watched her disappear from sight and wanted nothing more than to follow her and ask her what had happened, to figure out when everything had changed between them. The thing in his chest clenched tighter at his heart with every second she was gone and he was torn between waiting for her return or going after her. 

“You know,” Astarion drawled, breaking Halsin out of his thoughts. “You can go after her, if you’d like.”

“And you can mind your own business,” Halsin snaps back, feeling unlike himself as he glares at the rogue. “She’s more than capable of taking care of herself, especially when she’ll only be gone a few moments.” To his credit, Astarion doesn’t flinch at the druid’s harsh tone or at the way his eyes flash gold in warning to reveal the beast that is itching to be released.

“Oh?” Astraion smirks, his fingers twirling the coin Tav had been holding earlier with practised ease. “With the way you’re acting like a scorned lover I never would have guessed. Green may be your colour but jealousy doesn’t suit you.” Halsin’s fists clench by his side and before he can even think about what he’s doing he’s stood from his seat and stalking his way across to Astarion, his jaw tight with anger and annoyance. The more rational part of his brain is telling him to calm down, that he can’t beat Astarion to a pulp just because he had struck a (annoyingly accurate) nerve, but the bear inside him is fighting its way out and wants to - 

“Halsin,” Tav’s voice rings out from behind him, her tone sharp. He stops a few steps away from Astarion and turns to face her, his ire slowly seeping away as he looks at her. She looks equal parts confused and concerned at his out of character anger, although she also seems to be a little annoyed with him too from the glare she’s giving him. “I don’t know what Astarion said to piss you off, and I’m sure he deserves the punch you’re about to give him, but why don’t we leave the violence for the near daily threats we face, hm?” Her eyebrow is raised and she looks less than amused at the scene in front of her while Astarion dramatically places a hand on his chest, feigning outrage at her words.

“I…I apologise,” he mutters, embarrassment settling in his gut at his behaviour. He risks a glance at Astarion, who is watching him with vague interest and a hint of a smirk, before shaking his head and turning back to Tav. “I don’t know what came over me.” Her gaze softens as he looks back at her and she takes a few steps forward until she’s right in front of him, standing closer than she has been in weeks. Her hand grasps one of his fists to loosen his body language and she gently tugs at his sleeve.

“Come take a walk with me.”  It’s not so much a request as a demand as she lets go of his sleeve and takes his hand in hers and begins to pull him away from the campfire. Astarion begins to whistle the tune for a bawdy ballad and without missing a step Tav leans down to grab a rock and throws it at his head. She doesn’t stop to see if it hit him or not (because of course it didn’t, thanks to his ability to uncannily dodge every blow that comes his way) and leads Halsin into the treeline, ignoring how loudly Astarion is laughing behind them.

“What’s happening? Is something wrong?” Her touch is like magic, and if he didn’t know any better he would think she’s cast a spell on him with how fast the tension leaves his body as he wraps his hand around hers. All the anger, the annoyance, the jealousy that he had been feeling earlier fades away as she pulls him deeper into the woods until they come across the small river they use to wash up in. 

“You tell me,” she says, letting go of his arm once they reach their destination. She turns to face him, a fire in her eyes as she crosses her arms and looks up at him. “You’re the calmest person I have ever met. So tell me why you were about to swing at Astarion with more anger than I saw you direct at Minthara when she tried to raze the Grove to the ground.”

“Astarion-” Halsin breaks off, feeling slightly uneasy with the glare she’s directing at him. He had seen her use the look more times than he could count, but it was never directed at him. “It was nothing. It was stupid.”

“Clearly it wasn’t nothing because you looked seconds away from shifting into your bear form and ripping him to shreds,” she snaps. Halsin’s head dips down and he runs a hand through his hair warily as her tone suddenly makes him feel like he’s a boy all over again being chided by his tutors. Tav sighs and she steps forward slightly, her hand brushing his. “Look at me,” she says softly, the anger draining out of her voice. 

Halsin lifts his head fractionally to look at her and sees nothing but kindness and concern in her gaze. Her expression is soft as she steps closer, and he itches to pull her into his arms and never let go but he can’t. He can’t because she is his closest friend and he doesn’t want to scare her away and despite believing the heart should be able to roam free he isn’t sure if hers belongs to Astarion or not and he doesn’t want to overstep any boundaries. 

“What did he say?” Tav asks again, her voice gentle. “I’ve never seen you that angry before, Hal, so it can’t have been stupid.” Halsin’s heart thuds in his chest as she steps so close he can feel the heat from her body, and the way the nickname she’s given him rolls off her lips makes him want to fall to her feet and beg for forgiveness. 

“He called me a scorned lover,” he mumbles angrily, turning away from her again. His face feels hot under her gaze and he doesn’t have it in him to watch her reaction as he repeats the rogue’s words. “He insinuated I was jealous of him because you’re spending more time with him than me.”

“Oh.” Tav blinks, clearly not expecting that answer and stumbles back a few steps, her teeth tugging at her lower lip in a nervous habit that set Halsin on edge every time she did it. “So you...you were going to hit him? Because he made some false, asinine insinuation that he and I were together and I had tossed you aside?” Halsin can’t tell if she sounds angry or not and he’s suddenly apprehensive at replying to her. He can usually read her like the back of his hand - and she can do the same for him - so why couldn’t he tell what was running through her mind right now?

“Is it false?” he asks, turning to face her again, his voice quiet. “You’ve been avoiding me for weeks, you’ve been spending your time with him. How could I not think that?” Halsin knows he’s said the wrong thing the minute the fire flashes back in her eyes and she steps closer to him again, her finger prodding him in the chest as she speaks. 

“So what if I was seeing him? We’re not together Halsin, we never have been. You don’t get to throw punches at every person I meet just because I spend a little time with them!” Her voice rises steadily as she speaks and she turns her back on him and takes a few steps away, a hand running through her hair in frustration before she whirls back to face him. “I’m not seeing Astarion, by the way, and not that it matters, but I’m not seeing anyone right now.”

“So why not me?” he blurts out, his eyes shining gold in suppressed rage. “Why is he the one you spend your time with and not me? Why does he get to steal you away from me? Why can’t I be the one to make you laugh for hours and be the sole recipient of your affection and time?”

“You-” Tav lets out a hollow laugh. “You’re joking, right? I’ve waited months - months - for you to stop looking at me like a child that needs protection. For you to look at me the way I’ve wanted you to since the moment we first spoke properly at that party after we saved the tieflings and the Grove. And now you start acting like you want me back?” She’s not shouting, but every word has Halsin flinching as if she had. “Now that I’ve finally decided I shouldn’t pine after you anymore because I’m nothing more than your best friend and you’ll never look at me the way I want you to?”

“You…” Halsin can feel his heart pudding in his chest at her revelation. He feels like someone has just yanked a rug out from underneath him and he’s free falling, but at the same time his heart soars knowing she feels the same way as he does. That she wants him just as much as he wants her. “Why didn’t you say something? Why didn’t you just tell me?” He reaches out so he can touch her, so he can hold her. “I never thought…I didn’t want to let myself hope-” 

“How could I tell you?” She steps away before he can touch her and he swears his heart cracks as her eyes go misty and tears begin to well up. “You’re my best friend, Halsin. How was I supposed to tell you that somewhere along these months of travelling you’ve tripped me up and I’m head over heels in love with you?” The tears fall down her face and she wipes at them angrily. “How was I supposed to tell you that after you slept with someone else only a few days after I drunkenly came onto you?”

He feels his heart shatter at the sight of her tears, as he vaguely recalls the evening she’s talking about. They had stopped for a much needed break at a tavern and every single one of them had gotten ridiculously drunk as they unwound for the night. She had come up to him, her face red from either the alcohol or nerves and had run a hand down his chest in a way that set every nerve of his alight as she seductively murmured in his ear and asked him to join her in her rooms for the night. He had declined, even though every part of him screamed not to. He didn’t want her to regret things in the morning when she woke and had a clear head, he didn’t want to put their friendship at risk like that. A few nights later in the same tavern an elven warrior had come over to him when they were all significantly less drunk and had barely finished propositioning him before he whisked them away to a room for the night. 

“Tav,” his voice is hoarse and he feels like someone is running a sword through him. She never brought up asking him to sleep with her in the following days and he had assumed that meant she was embarrassed or didn’t remember doing it. When the elf had come up to him later and asked the same from him he never stopped to think about how it would make her feel. How it would look to anyone else. “Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?” he asks eventually, “because you’re in love with me?”

“Yes,” she takes another step away from him as he tries to get closer. “I’m not proud of it, and seeing your face drop every time I made an excuse not to be around you felt like someone was shoving a dagger into my heart,” she puts her hand to her chest, the tears falling freely down her face now, “but I had to do it. You…you’re everything I’ve ever wanted and more and I couldn’t be around you because it killed me to know you would never feel the same. The final nail in the coffin was when you slept with that elf. They were fucking stunning and I knew then you would never want me like I want you.”

“How can you say I don’t want you like that?” he rasps. “Have you not seen the way I’ve looked at you? Do you know how much effort it took to resist you?” He tries to inch closer to her, his body screaming to wipe her tears away and pull her into a tight embrace. 

“Congratulations, would you like a medal?” Her tone is sarcastic as she slips away from his touch yet again. “Well done on showing some restraint with me when the Oak Father knows you’ll fuck anyone else with a pulse.” Her breathing is heavy as she glares at him in equal parts anger and heartbreak. “You thought Astarion and I had something going on and you almost ripped him to shreds. Imagine how it felt for me, watching you take someone else to your bed.”

“You’re right,” he admits. “How many times have I done this to you? How many times have I pushed you away, assuming I know what’s best for you when you’re more than capable of deciding yourself who you want to sleep with. Who you want to be with.” He takes a deep breath and he lowers his walls so she can see just how much she means to him. “You’re everything I want - everything I have ever wanted. And you always will be.” His words have the opposite effect he was hoping for and she sinks to the ground, a gut-wrenching sob leaving her as she covers her face and begins to cry. 

He falls to his knees beside her, his arms reaching out to pull her into his embrace and tell her just how in love with her he is, but he hesitates inches away knowing she will only pull further away from him if he follows through. His hands land uselessly at his lap and he feels his own eyes burn as tears threaten to well up at the sound of her anguish. He blinks them away, he hasn’t earned the right to be upset, not when he’s hurt her so deeply. 

“I understand if you don’t believe me,” he says instead, his voice low and full of emotion. “If you tell me to leave right now, I will. Or if it will make you feel better to yell at me some more I’ll stay and take it. I’ll do whatever you want - whatever you need.” He pauses, hoping the words he’s about to say don’t hurt her further. “Please believe me, Tav.”

“Would you have told me?” she asks, her voice thick with tears. “If you hadn’t thought I was with Astarion, would you have ever told me?” She looks up at him and her red-rimmed eyes only cleaves his heart further in two. “If you didn’t think my heart belonged to somebody else would you even have realised how you feel about me?” He pauses as she speaks; he doesn’t want to lie to her, but he knows in his soul she won’t be pleased with the answer he’s going to give her. 

“No,” he whispers eventually. “It took seeing you with him to realise I was in love with you, and I wish every day that I hadn’t needed that reminder. I should have seen it the moment we met, the way you made me feel…” He lets out a shaky breath and rubs the back of his neck. “I’m an idiot.” Tav inhales sharply at his words and nods to herself, her jaw clenching tightly as if she’s trying to stop herself from falling apart again. 

“Well, you won’t hear any arguments from me.” She looks up at him for a few seconds before she looks away again, tears welling back in her eyes as she stands up. “I’m tired. I’m going back to camp.” She doesn’t ask him to follow her, but he does anyway, stumbling to his feet as he follows her back through the trees. He walks in silence by her side as she leads them back to camp, his body heavy and his mind spinning. The one person he wanted in the world was right next to him and he had never felt so far away from her. They return to the camp and all eyes are on them, especially when they take note of the tears that have yet to dry on Tav’s face. 

Astarion sits up as she walks over to him and throws her arms around his shoulders and begins to sob into his shirt. The vampire clearly doesn’t know how to react, but after a moment he wraps his arms back around Tav and holds her close, walking her away so that everyone in camp isn’t privy to her breakdown. Halsin bites the inside of his cheek and looks away as Astarion does what he can’t and comforts Tav as she cries. He knows now that she doesn’t have romantic feelings for the pale elf, but that doesn’t stop his chest from clenching tightly as Astarion’s hands rest on her waist and run through her hair comfortingly. 

“You’re an idiot, you know,” Shadowheart sidles up to him, her tone dry. She has an unamused expression on her face as she stares up at Halsin, her arms crossed in front of her chest. Karalch gives her a gentle nudge and offers Halsin an apologetic smile. 

“I know,” he agrees instantly. “I want nothing more than to give her the comfort he’s providing her right now, and it breaks my heart that I’ve caused her this much pain without even realising it. Seeing Astarion hold her like that…I wish it was me, but I’m glad she kind find some solace in someone here.”

“She doesn’t love him, you know. They’re only friends.” Shadowheart nods her head towards Tav and Astarion. “He’s been trying to help her catch your eye for a while now.” Halsin blinks, the information catching him off guard.

“Astarion is trying to help her?”

“And you,” Shadowheart turns her head to glare at him. “Astarion has been trying to help her with her confidence so she could test the waters and flirt a little with you. And then you had to go and reject her when she finally tried to tell you how she felt only to sleep with someone else a few days later?” The cleric looks mad now, and Halsin has no doubt in his mind that if they were in a more secluded part of the camp she would be yelling and cursing him out for treating Tav the way he had. 

“Nothing I say will ever be able to erase what I did, no matter how much I wish it could.” He lets out a sigh and looks over at Astarion and Tav again. The rogue has pulled her across the camp to her tent and through the open flaps he can see she’s lying down on her bedroll, her head in Astarion’s lap as his fingers run through her hair. “How long has he been trying to help?”

“Does it matter?” Shadowheart asks, her tone sharp. “You never even looked twice at Tav until you thought Astarion was interested in her. No one wants to be made a choice after they become unobtainable - or in this case assumedly unobtainable.” There’s a soft expression on Astarion’s face as he comforts Tav, one Halsin has never seen before. For a split second he wonders if she’s better off without him in her life, whether that’s as a friend or more, but the selfish part of him can’t bear to leave her. 

“Just give her some time, soldier,” Karlach steps forward, ignoring the glare Shadowheart shoots at her. “She’s hurt, it won’t do any good to speak to her right now, you’ll only push her further away. Give her a few days.” He gives Karlach a nod and looks back over at the campsite, wanting to disappear into the trees and give Tav the space she clearly needs, no matter how much it will hurt him. 

Shadowheart and Karlach walk away, leaving Halsin alone again. He watches Astarion cup Tav’s face in her hands and wipe away the last of her tears, muttering something he’s too far away to hear before he kisses her on the forehead. Tav lets out a weak laugh and shakes her head, and the scene grips Halsin’s chest painfully tight. He shakes his head and walks back into the treeline, his eyes glowing gold as he shifts into his cave bear form and darts into the woods.

*

One Week Later

Halsin trudges back into camp, feeling weary and more than a little exhausted, and is a little surprised to see everything is still in its place and the group hasn’t moved on without him. He shifts back into his elf form, shuddering slightly as his body protests and walks towards his tent,  giving awkward smiles and nods to Gale and Jaheira, who wave in greeting at him.

“Hey, soldier!” Karlach grins when she sees him, raising her tankard of ale in greeting as she bounds over. “Welcome back, it’s good to see you.” For a moment it looks like she’s about to pull Halsin into a hug, but decides against it at the last minute. She watches his eyes dart around the camp, no doubt looking for Tav or even Astarion, and his hopeful expression falls when he sees neither. “She’s in town gathering supplies,” the tiefling lowers her voice considerably so no one can hear them. “We’re running a little low after she all but forced us to stay here and wait for you to come back.” Halsin looks at her in surprise, but she just shrugs as if she hadn’t said anything and takes another sip of her drink. 

“I assume Astarion has gone with her?”

“You assume wrong.” The white-haired elf walks by, a book in his hands. “I’d say it’s good to see you again but…” Astarion grimaces and takes in Halsin’s dishevelled appearance. A week of wandering through the woods as a bear has left him looking more than a little worse for wear, with dirt and dust covering him from head to toe, and what felt like a small bird’s nest worth of twigs tangled in his hair. “You look like shit. You should get cleaned up before she’s back, the gods know she’ll only be more upset at you dragging yourself back here looking half dead.” He walks away and settles outside his tent, sipping idly from a glass of wine as he continues to read.

“Wyll went with her,” Karlach fills the awkward silence. “We needed a lot, so he’s gone to help her carry everything.” Her gaze softens as she looks him over, taking note of his tangled hair and the dust on his clothes. “She’s missed you, you know. She’ll be glad you’re back.” Halsin feels something in his chest loosen at the words and he hopes the barbarian is right. 

“Do you know when she’ll be back?”

“Soon, probably. I’m not saying Astarion was right but uh…you might want to consider getting cleaned up before then. No offence,” Karlach wrinkles her nose playfully and Halsin can’t help but let out a quiet chuckle, the sound foreign to his ears. He runs a hand through his hair, wincing as he catches on a large knot and lets out a quiet sigh. The thought of Tav coming back to see the state he’s in pushes him to move, and he mutters a quick see you later to Karlach before making his way to his tent to grab some clean clothes and his supplies. 

He’s soon down by the river, trying not to think about the last time he stood there and the heartbreak on Tav’s face as he strips down and scrubs the week in the forest from his body and his dirty clothes. He pulls more twigs and leaves out than he thought possible and it isn’t long before he’s walking back to camp, a towel slung over his shoulder and his now cleaned and dry outfit in his hands while he wears fresh clothes. Karlach is still drinking when he returns, her feet propped up on a bench as she basks in the sun, Shadowheart curled beside her as she sips from her own goblet. 

“Halsin?” He would recognise her voice anywhere. He turns around to see Tav a few feet away, a large supply pack hanging from her shoulder. It falls to the floor with a thump as she takes a hesitant step forward. “Is it really you? Are you back?” Her voice is as soft as a whisper, and he barely registers as Wyll picks her discarded pack up and walks away, giving them both some much needed space. Halsin feels like his heart is caught in his throat. All at once he wants to pull her into his arms, he wants to fall to the floor in front of her and beg forgiveness, he wants to hide from her again but he also wants to yell from the mountains that he loves her and will do anything to fix what he broke. 

“Oak Father’s blessings, Tav,” he places his fist on his chest in greeting, his voice hoarse. He takes a small step closer to her before hesitating. He wants her to decide where they go from here. She is all he wants, but he doesn’t want to push himself onto her. He doesn’t have time to finish the thought in his head before she’s dashing across the camp and throwing herself at him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders tightly, her legs dangling because of their height difference. Her head is buried in his neck and for a moment he forgets how to breathe let alone hug her back. He’s stunned for a few moments, and more than a little relieved that she hasn’t outright told him to shove off, and his arms wrap around her waist, holding her close. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, his voice catching in his throat. “I’m so sorry.”

She doesn’t reply, and instead she holds onto him a little tighter and he can feel the collar of his short go damp as she begins to cry silently. His eyes slip closed as he pulls her closer and he wills himself to keep it together as he uses one of his arms to grip her legs, prompting her to wrap them around his waist so that they aren’t dangling in midair. He presses a kiss to her forehead, his heart stuttering as she doesn’t pull away or snap at him not to touch her and he’s only vaguely aware that the rest of the camp is being ushered away by Shadowheart and Karlach so the pair can have their moment. Once everyone has disappeared, Tav pulls back and steps out of Halsin’s arms. He itches to pull her back but the glare she’s sending him makes him reconsider. 

“Don’t ever do that again!” she snaps, pushing him slightly. She doesn’t do it with enough force to move him, but surprise and confusion flits across his face. “You can’t just disappear like that for a week, Halsin! No one knew where you were, you didn’t leave a note - what if something had happened to you? How was I supposed to know you weren’t hurt or captured or even dead?”

His mouth flops open uselessly at her reprimand, an apology on the tip of his tongue that suddenly feels unbearingly inadequate. He can see it on the exhaustion on her face, in the dark rings under her eyes. He thought leaving and giving her some space was the right thing to do, but just like when he had slept with that elf he hadn’t stopped to consider how it would make her feel. At the time he didn’t think she would care he was gone - she was an inconsolable wreck when he left - he hadn’t realised that Tav, let alone anyone else, would have no way of getting into touch with him while he was away. The silence between them is so loud that his ears ring, and yet he still can’t find the words to say. Sorry doesn’t even begin to cover the pain he’s put her through.

“You’re… you’re not hurt, right?” she asks, the anger leaving her voice as she stares at him, assessing him for any damage that she can’t see. He tries to respond with a quip or a clever comment, but he can’t. The guilt weighs too heavy on his heart right now.

“My pride, perhaps.” He offers her a weak smile as she scrutinises him. “I didn’t mean to worry you while I was away. I just wanted to give you some space.” She opens her mouth to reply but it seems it’s her turn to be unsure of what to say. She wraps her arms around her waist and looks around at the now empty camp and tilts her head towards the unlit fire. 

“We should probably talk. I promise I won’t shout and poke you this time.” A weak smile falls on her lips as she makes her way over and sits down on one of the logs. Halsin gives her a weak smile and follows, sitting on the tree stump opposite her. He has so many thoughts rushing through his mind, so many things he wants to say to her, but when he opens his mouth to say them all that comes out is an incoherent mumble followed by a low sigh. 

“I don’t know where to start, either,” she laughs nervously and runs a hand through her hair. “I’m sorry for how I reacted last week. I didn’t mean to explode on you. It’s not an excuse, but I was just so hurt and angry and I felt a little betrayed and…I’m sorry.”

“I deserved it.”

“Maybe,” she gives him a faint, teasing smile and he feels like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. “Hal…” She hesitates again, chewing on her lower lip. “Did you mean what you told me? When you said I was everything you want and that you-” she breaks off, her face flushing, but the words hang in the air. Did he mean it when he said he loved her? His face softens and he nods. 

“I did. I meant every word and I still do.” His voice is soft as he slides into a seat closer to her and holds a hand out in offering. He’ll let her decide if she wants to take it. From here on out she makes the calls on where they stand. He can live with being just a friend to her if it means having her in his life. “I understand if you don’t feel the same way about me anymore, given all that’s happened, but I want you to know.” She fidgets in her seat and her face turns the most enticing shade of pink as she places her hand in his and squeezes gently. Halsin has to struggle not to pull her onto his lap and wrap his arms around her, but he reminds himself that she’s in charge here. 

“I meant what I said too. Somewhere along the way while we’ve travelled I...I just fell so hard and fast for you. You mean the entire world to me, Hal. I don’t know what I would do without you.” She swallows and looks up at him and how did he ever think she didn’t have feelings for him when she looked at him like that? He was blind to have not seen it before. “I’m not going to lie, it stings that you only wanted me after you thought I was taken by someone else. But...I’m selfish. I love you, Hal. I-I’m putting my heart on the line here, I want to be with you. I want to be yours and I want you to be mine.”

“Tav,” he whispers, pushing himself to his knees in front of her. “My heart does not stir easily, but…” he pauses to let out a quiet, warm chuckle. “I feel like it never truly started beating until I met you. Nature outdid itself with you, and the Oak Father will have truly blessed me if he allowed you to be by my side. My heart is yours, as is every other part of me.” Tav lets out a breathless laugh at his words and sinks down so she is also kneeling in front of him, her hand winding around his shoulders so she can fiddle with his unbound hair. 

“And mine is yours,” she murmurs, a smile flitting across her face as his hands come to rest on her waist. He pulls her onto his lap like he’s wanted to since he first realised he had fallen for her, and he’s rewarded with a beautiful blush and coy smile.

“You’re all I want. I don’t even want to look at anyone else but you.” He leans in, his lips brushing across her jaw softly before he places a kiss on her cheek. “My love, my heart, my soul; they’re all yours.” Her breathing hitches and her fingers tangle themselves in her hair in response and she leans in, her lips a breath away from his

“Halsin, may I kiss you?”

“I was hoping you would ask.” He closes the gap between them, his lips brushing hers tenderly once, twice and a third time before he grips her hips and kisses her like he’ll never have the chance to again. He doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to the feeling of her hands in his hair, or the sweet sounds she makes as he pulls her impossibly closer, but he relishes the feeling all the same as they more than make up for their lost time.

[athanasius-symposium-of-writings]

Listen, Baldur's Gate got me in a chokehold especially with Astarion aaa! So here's a small fic with vampire spawn!tav x Astarion (note i mixed some vtm stuff hehe) totally welcome requests for him uwu

Rated: M

Warnings: mention of blood, manipulation, vampirism, and some trauma briefly

The smile is practiced, clearly. You tilt your head ever so slightly to show interest but not too much as you want your prey to willingly chase after you.

Astarion hunts flawlessly; only those who have been around him, studied him, can see the tells of his performance.

You are no Astarion, tonight he feeds for two again. You hate bothering him about this, about how to be a vampire.

Your master had forced this gift upon you, to keep his bird in their cage to sing and play the instrument of his choosing. He forced you to consume the blood of his prey, you had no reason to learn how to be a hunter— In his eyes.

Astarion feeds you because of pity, or maybe he doesn't like seeing you in a bloodlust frenzy, especially during the day.

Hunting is hard despite the supernatural charms granted by this infliction... Two partners he leads outside, leaving you to continue the night in the tavern alone with your lute.

Later in the evening, when the night is slowly turning to day, outside the camp away from curious gazes; he teaches you how to not fear feeding.

"Such a little fledgling," The tone is mocking but the way his hand strokes your hair hints to his concern. You will not survive long like this, worm or no worm.

You shake as you open your mouth ready to bite his wrist but you stop midway and cower.

"You can't keep doing this. It's better to accept the situation and work with it."

Ten years. He laughed so bitterly when you told him how long you have been a vampire spawn. Ten years in a gilded cage to sing for your master; he made you want for nothing.

There is jealousy but pity, mostly envy for you were (in his eyes of anguish) not given a monster of a master like him.

"Feed."

"I'm sorry. Thank you." When you give thanks, it is when you bite down upon the pale elf's flesh. He grunts because you had to dig your fangs in, learning to let instinct guide you.

He drank enough for two as he finds him often doing; you are such a novice to the world of darkness and deception.

A bard with talents in the arcane. The leader of this band of weirdos, the glue of this group honestly.

Those red eyes stare, watching, as you feed slowly and try not to make too much sound.

Gale had been one to stop you from killing him when he first met you. Fangs and claws, ravenous, you apologized to him— No, you grovel to him back at camp for your unsightly reaction.

Water under the bridge, you had exposed your weakness to him.

Then he got desperate and attempted to feed on you. He foolishly thought you were feeding. No, you were feeding... On old blood, you stole before you ran away. Barely drinking much to stretch out the bottles.

That night he suppose you thought of him as kindred. Your unofficial sire and you his unofficial fledgling. Maybe that is correct, he just wants his spot in this group of wannabe heroes to be safe.

So long as you like him well he stays.

When the feeding is done, when you lick away the excess blood like a cat, you wrap his already healing wound. It's something he stopped bickering about with you, this symbolic gesture to further show your appreciation.

"Sex is a much better gift." Sighing as if bored, he is bored.

You laugh softly like the caress of a summer breeze warmth. The light is still in your eyes while his are completely snuffed out.

There are days and moments when you are too naive. Tonight you slip away back to your simple tent and he will remain in the outskirts of the camp to cool his head.

When it is time to hunt again, he has you feed on the Gur who was sent to capture him. This is a gift, the gift to taste blood directly rather than just from him.

Alone, this done alone with him holding the monster hunter as you tried to be gentle.

"Yes, drink deeply. Drain him dry." Your eyes closed, your grip on the hunter's shirt tightens as the hunger takes over.

But you are a mere child compared to your partner in sanguine hunger.

The need now is ten times stronger and with a bloodied mouth you kindly ask for more.

He will teach you to control some other time, right now he kisses you. Sharing this victory with kisses and hands on your body.

Heavy making out is all he gets for now, too shy to allow him to take you.

Properly corrupt you.

With both vampires fed, the fights with enemies are easier. Feeding on bandits or goblins, or whatever else dares to challenge the group against fate.

In the Underdark, it gets harder to feed. The small group of dark elves was helpful to stave off the hunger for a week or so.

Once more you go to him for guidance, no one else.

[danzafila]

You get me with your tags in the reblog of that post (about Astarion). Thanks for saying it so on point XD

lol sorry for the late reply, but YES you get me.

I'm so tired of going into any other character (or ship)'s tags and half the posts are about Astarion (but they had to tag every other character that gets a glancing mention under the sun... and yet half the time they can't bother to tag any of the numerous Astarion ship tags I have blocked!!!). and I'm sooo tired of literally every fucking discord server I find (about OTHER characters) still having half the fucking convos be about that stupid pale elf

I don't even dislike him!! I just hate the fucking chokehold he has on the fandom and the way his fans can't seem to comprehend that not everyone else is as obsessed with him as them and might not actually appreciate getting his ass shoved down our throats every fucking where we go (ESPECIALLY in places explicitly meant to focus on characters OTHER THAN HIM! SHUT UP ABOUT ASTARION SHUUUT UPPPPP ABOUT HIM I S2G!!!!!!)

anyways. I've half joked about making a BG3 server where mentioning Astarion gets you kicked and every time I get a discord notification and it turns out to be someone spamming screenshots/fanart of or starting a discussion about that motherfucker again, I get closer and closer to making that a reality lmao

[astarionslittlejuicebox]

The Promise of Eternity (Part 13)

MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY

Author: @astarionslittlejuicebox

Imagine: The reader helped Astarion ascend and became his spawn. After saving the world from the Elder brain and it’s destruction, the reader and Astarion set out to take on the world together. While he promised to never forget the gifts the reader has given him, Astarion has seemed to have changed his attitude towards the reader in the last century…. After someone breaks one of  Astarion’s rules, how will this affect the reader’s fate?

Pairing: Astarion x F!Reader

Trigger warnings: potential for minor spoilers, suggestive themes, language, mentions of death, mentions of blood, abusive relationship, mention of slavery, EXPLICIT CONTENT AHEAD (18+) 

Imagine Series

Word Count: 1454

Side Notes: 

This imagine series takes place 200 years after the events of Baldur’s Gate 3.  Everything you read in here is a story from my mind outside of the original BG3 character Astarion.

In this imagine series, Astarion is a bit more unemotionally unavailable, and this series will follow the decisions and consequences of that change. This is not canonically accepted and it is just an idea I’ve had in my head! (I do believe Astarion might truly care for the reader after Ascension, but that is open to individual interpretation.)

In this series, TAV is mildly based on my first character I played in BG3; she is a drow and I will make references to her in her background and knowledge as well. I do apologize that it is not 100% your own imagine, but the name for TAV is up to you as well as anything else that I can think of leaving to you, the reader, to decide.

I appreciate everyone who reads the imagines and this series, and I hope you enjoy the story!

TAV POV

If my heart had been beating with life in my chest, I am sure it would have stopped beating at Astarion’s words.

“You don’t mean—“ I started, but the pale elf’s lips on mine stopped the words from coming out of my mouth.

“Let’s satisfy that hunger of yours darling. I wanna see how sweet you taste after you’ve had your fill of me.” His voice deepened with arousal as he gently pushed me down on the soft mattress. I bounced lightly from the force of his shove before he climbed up between my thighs, planting soft hungry kisses as he trailed up my body. A perfect hand grasped my neck in a light chokehold as his nose trailed along the artery that used to beat with a strong pulse. His tongue swiped a trail from the base of my neck to just below my ear, and the sensation sent a shudder through my body.

“It’s been far too long since I’ve had you.” His voice dripped with arousal and sparked the familiar tingle between my thighs. He harshly sucked the space below my ear as a mere distraction from his other hand wandering down between my legs, which I only noticed when he rubbed between my folds and gained a surprised gasp from me. Taking this moment of surprise, Astarion’s lips hungrily captured mine as our kiss turned hungrier for each other. His expert fingers drew a moan from me as he teased the dripping hole, and a deep chuckle came from the man above me.

“Look at you, pet, so wet for me—so eager for me.” He teased me further by avoiding the action I wanted and withdrew his hand completely before he moved it to tug and twist his nipple in my hand. “I know you’re hungry for my touch, but I know you’re hungry for something more.” The husky words from his mouth made me clench my thighs together. He pulled my hips to him before rolling us over, and now I was straddling his still clothed hips. His hands ravaged my breasts as his eyes twinkled with amusement as my eyes darkened with arousal. My fangs itched to be buried into a neck or artery, but I waited patiently for permission to do so.

“Look at you—still fully clothed—but so hard for his favorite pet.” Astarion let out a low moan at my words, and his dick hardened even more beneath me. His trousers kept him contained, and I toyed with the trim of his blood red shirt. I leaned down and licked a swipe up his neck before I whispered seductively in his ear. “May I undress you, sir?” His hips bucked upwards to create some friction between us. My nose trailed down his neck as I planted soft kisses against his soft skin before I reached the collar of his shirt. Delicate fingers wrapped themselves in my freshly washed hair as he pulled me into a hungry kiss. His fangs nipped at my lip and drew a little bit of blood.

“Oh my sweet pet—“ He growled in my ear before he flipped us over and pinned me down on the bed. “—you treat me so well, but tonight is about you.” His words sent chills across my skin and more wetness pooled between my legs as I watched him plant sloppy kisses down my stomach and thighs. He teasingly ghosted his lips over the place I wanted him most as he kissed and sucked on the inner skin of my thighs. I let out a soft sigh of satisfaction as his tongue swiped over my drenched folds. “You taste absolutely divine.” The breath from his words across my sensitive area sent a shiver through my legs before he indulged himself hungrily. He lapped at my juices, and his tongue expertly swirled around the sensitive bundle of nerves. His hands pinned my thighs spread-eagle for him as I writhed beneath the vampire. My eyes could barely open enough to see his crimson eyes staring expectantly up at me as he ravaged me, and my fingers laced themselves in his soft snow-white curls to pull his hair lightly. His moan sent vibrations through my core and caused a moan of my own to escape my mouth. I felt the familiar tightening of my muscles in the lower part of my body before he suddenly pulled away from me. A mewl of dissatisfaction left me, and Astarion chuckled in response before he peeled the clothes concealing him off of himself. I marveled at the exquisite physique this man had, and a century hadn’t changed much about him in physical appearance—he still looked like a statue to marvel at. 

“Do you like what you see, darling?” He amusingly asked as I blatantly stared at him. I smirked at the question he asked before I arched my back and posed for him.

“Do you like what you see, darling?” The arousal in my voice sent a physical shudder through the vampire’s body as a mischievous grin appeared on his wet lips. Wiping his face, he inched closer to me and eagerly kissed me. Our tongues fought each other for dominance before he earned a yelp of surprise as he drew blood from my lip. 

“I don’t like what I see—I love what I see.” He whispered in my ear before he sank his fangs into my neck. I grasped his curls as the pleasurable sensation of him sucking my blood overtook my senses. After a few moments, he pulled back and my blood left a small trail from the right corner of his mouth. Grinning wildly, I used the brief moment to flip us over. Once on his back, Astarion cocked his head to the side. “Go on love, have your fill.”  My left eyebrow raised itself in question.

“I say you’ve more than earned this reward.” He placed his arms cockily behind his head. “Don’t stop until I tell you otherwise.” My tongue snaked out and wet my lips before I leaned over the man below me. I kissed and sucked on his neck before I sank my fangs into his soft flesh. I barely heard the moan that left his lips as the sweet taste of a finely aged spiced sangria flowed into my mouth. A moan left my lips as Astarion took the opportunity to thrust into the wetness dripping down my legs. He held my head close to him as he refused to hold back his effort to make up for the last hundred years. 

“Good girl.” His praises rang in my ears. “Drink your fill and take your place the vampire I want to rule by my side for eternity.” My legs shook from pleasure as my arms struggled to support my weight. “Just a little bit more, my queen.” I could feel the insatiable hunger easing as I continued to indulge in his intoxicatingly sweet blood and the feeling of him pounding into my core. I could feel my muscles tensing in the familiar sensation of pure pleasure as the elf shifted slightly to hit my G spot. Astarion’s pants in my ear almost sent me over the edge, but I fought against it, waiting for confirmation to let go.

Hands gripped my hips tightly as a husky voice commanded me to let go. Pure ecstasy took over my senses as I came all over him the same moment his fangs sank into my neck. He came undone moments after me and thrusted until both of our highs were done. Sighing heavily, I licked the bite mark I left on his neck. I laid on his chest as he calmly stroked my hair.

“How does it feel to be a full vampire, my queen?” He asked as I closed my eyes, relishing in this moment.

“I’m surprised that you made me one.” I answered honestly. “You told me so many years ago it would happen in time, but I never thought the time would come.” A gentle kiss was planted on the top of my head. 

“You’ve proven that you deserve it. Now, we truly are the most powerful people in all the realm.” He shifted slightly under me. “Rest now, my love, for tomorrow we shall deal with the enemies that infiltrated our home.” I sighed as sleepiness weighed my eyelids down.

“Too bad I can’t drain that bitch dry without making her a spawn.” I quietly muttered then yawned. “But I will take great pleasure in killing her.” The chest under me rubbled with a light chuckle. 

“I shall enjoy watching you do so.” Astarion said before I lifted my head and he pressed a kiss to my lips. “Sleep well, my love.”

[grey-wardens]

it's been nearly six months since bg3 came out and the pale elf still has a chokehold on me

[lcgacyofages-a]

Drabble: Random Scene set during Asunder featuring Aurora Amell and Etienne de Rousseau. It’s a bit rough, I just wrote it today and have not edited it to be a bit more fitting for the setting.

Lord Seeker Lambert had held a chokehold on the White Spire and made sure to be aware of what every single mage was doing. It gave little chance for Aurora to observe Val Royeaux, as Wynne had instructed her to do. She was to keep her eyes and ears open for any peculiarities which may arise and inform her when she returned. Luckily, Aurora had managed to befriend one of the senior enchanters of the White Spire.

Etienne was the son of a well respected marquis and had more freedoms than many of the other mages Aurora had seen in the Circles. Despite Lambert’s attempts to regulate traffic, he had no option on the matter of Etienne. The man had been away from the Circle when the crimes had occurred, at his family’s estate at his father’s behest. It was a birthday matter or some reason, Aurora wasn’t sure. But due to this connection, Aurora found herself strolling along the streets of Val Royaux with him and two templar escorts, of course. Two Etienne requested and Lambert had to clench his jaw about and accept for the time.

He was a handsome man and Aurora did consider it a shame he wore a mask about outside of the Circle. It had been a habit, he explained, after being raised in his father’s household until his magic appeared. It was a simple version of the family mask, an ivory color with the family’s emblem etched into it with gold paint. The sunburst blossom, as it was called, glimmered on the forehead of the mask, a complimenting contrast to the ivory hue on the mask. Some simple yellow sapphires lined the underside of the of his eyes, following a gold etched line. His attire was a rich blue robe, detailed fashionable with gold and ivory, matching the mask he bore perfectly.

To say Aurora felt rather simple in her light blue circle robe was an understatement. Perhaps it was finer than some, with a white fennec fur trim, but the style was distinctly Fereldan. And the simple details on her attire paled in comparison to the complex gold and ivory trimmed patterns on his. It was, to say, an odd pair which caught the eye of quite a few people in the marketplace. Perhaps it was also the fact they were mages with a templar escort following a bit behind them, but also terribly mismatched.

“Thank you, again, for allowing me to accompany you, Ser Etienne,” Aurora began, unsure of a proper title for him. He waved it off, a charming smile visible beneath the half mask.

“I could not let you be in Val Royeaux without actually experiencing the fine culture,” he told her. “It really does pale in comparison to others.”

Aurora kept her features even, considering the implication. She paused to look at a stand in the marketplace. A merchant who sold ‘exotic’ goods, but Aurora could note a few of them were of questionable shape. She’d spent so much time buried in whatever book she could get her hand on, she could see the lackluster of some of the false Antivan jewelry and the poorly done Fereldan embroidery. She continued walking along beside Etienne, giving a thoughtful hum.

“So much so merchants sell poor copies of other cultures?” She inquired lightly. “Or perhaps they believe them to be better?”

Etienne was not insulted in the slightest; in fact, he seemed amused by her astute observation.

“Orlais does tend to think itself capable of doing better than others, but we have the history to back that.”

“Have you ever woven a basket, Ser Etienne?”

“No, I have not.”

“Pity, it’s a relaxing hobby, and one which takes years to master to the finest,” Aurora began. “And then those skills are passed on to the next generation and the baskets get stronger and prettier. This continues until the basket of the region is one of the strongest and finest...Now imagine someone coming and seeing it, and considering ‘I can surely make that!’ And does so, but it is a poor copy and you buy it, thinking it is a better version than what is made elsewhere. But after time, you see the flaws and how it doesn’t hold what it needs to properly.”

Etienne waved his hand, giving a warm laugh.

“I see your point, Lady Aurora. You can desist in outwitting me with your clever tongue. Perhaps there is room for Orlais to learn and not be as prideful. Is that what you’d like to hear, then?”

“Perhaps.” Her tone was nonchalant as she walked a bit ahead of him. She paused as they walked by a sidestreet. She assumed it lead to the alienage from the looks of it because further down the way it was far less appealing than the street they were on. Aurora knew of the dangers but she could see a few shops down the way. She glanced back at their escort and then back to Etienne.

“What shops are down that way?”

“Some lower ranked merchants who can’t afford this area and some better off elven ones who can manage to rent a shop outside of the alienage, if only for a short time,” Etienne explained. “While it can be questionable in the evenings, it should be fine during the day if you are curious to look.”

“I am,” Aurora began, headed down the road. She turned to look at him, a brow raised. “I was raised in Ferelden so I have simpler cultural taste, after all.”

“Ah, there it is,” Etienne remarked cheekily, following after her. The two templars followed them at an easy pace, clearly not as concerned about Etienne as they would be with any other mage.

“There what is?”

“The sweetly biting remark I was expecting, of course,” he responded, gray eyes glimmering with mirth. “I imagine you could kill a man with a smile and politely worded insult. It is very Orlesian.”

“Hardly,” Aurora shot back, false disdain in her tone. “I don’t have a knife up my sleeve when doing so.”

“And there it is again.”

The pair fell into a comfortable silence as they strolled along the street, merely window shopping at this point. They would point out different wares on and off to each other, but felt no need to fill the quietness between them. It was oddly comfortable, Aurora realized, not at all awkward like she was used to feeling. She found it pleasant. She also noticed how people would pay special attention to them due to the mask Etienne wore and she realized precisely why he chose to wear them outside of the Spire.

While the Chantry would expect his family to renounce a bastard mage child, his father had not, and Etienne played it to his advantage. Whether outside of the Circle or inside of it, he made sure he hadn’t as many difficulties of others. For a moment, Aurora wondered if she would have had the same courtesy if her own noble family hadn’t been so utterly disgraced in Kirkwall.

She was jolted from her thoughts at the feeling of someone rushing past her. An elven boy, no older than ten years of age, rushed by her. She could hear shouts from behind them. Etienne put an arm around her shoulder and moved her out of the way as guards from a nobleman chased the boy. It hardly seemed to be fair, two guards after one boy.

As the boy tripped on a loose cobblestone, the guards advanced, one ready to strike the boy with his fist. Aurora moved on instinct, not really hearing Etienne yelling after her. She placed herself between the guard and the boy, taking him in her arms.

“He’s a child!” She scolded the guard, causing him to pause. “What has he done to deserve a strike?” He was shivering and Aurora noted he already had injuries, as it were.

“He dared to insult Baroness Le Monte,” the guard sneered. “The worthless knife-ear mocked her—”

“She didn’t pay all she owed!” The boy piped up, his voice cracking with fear.

“Your rabbit master will accept whatever pay the baroness deems worth his time,” the second snapped, moving to pull him out of Aurora’s grasp. “Now, let him go you insolent dog wench!”

“I must ask you to watch your tongue when speaking to my friend.” There was a cool edge to Etienne’s voice as he cut in, causing the guards to look at him. While his voice had an edge, his face was nothing less than polite and friendly. “Baroness le Monte, you said?” He took a step closer and the guards seemed to realize who he was. He tilted his head a bit, seeming to play confused. “She’s shirking around payments? My, I hope they haven’t fallen on difficult times…”

“No, no they have not, Ser de Rousseau,” the guard said firmly, yet there was a waiver in his voice.

“Ah, because they ought to be able to pay what is owed then, correct? We would not wish the other nobles to think any less of the house le Monte, no? It would be a shame, the baroness throws such lovely parties. If they think…”

“We will see the pay is done,” the first said with a huff, giving them a pouch of what else was owed.

“Good,” Etienne said with a smile. “Give Sophia my regards.” With that, the guards left the two the the boy, the templars watching them skeptically.

Aurora helped the boy to his feet, straightening his jacket a bit and smiling at him. He looked at her in surprise with large green eyes. He tilted his head to the side, a tuft of dark brown hair falling onto his sunkissed forehead.

“Are you well? Not too hurt, are you?” She asked gently. He shook his head, still not sure what to say. She handed him the pouch and then reached into her own purse and pulled out a few small coins she had. “Good. Run back to your master and buy yourself a sweet roll on the way.”

“Th-thank you, ma’am!” The boy said, turning to rush off. Aurora watched him go, a sad look on her features.

“You know, it is not typical for someone to stand up for elves,” Etienne pointed out. “That was the cause of a revolt in Halamshiral, you know. A good elf was apparently killed and the elves revolted because no one stood up for them against one of the lords of the city. The empress purged the alienage.”

“Well, maybe more people ought to stand up for them,” she said, allowing Etienne to help her to her feet. “Perhaps if more people stood up for each other, the world would be better.”

“An astute philosophy, Lady Amell,” Etienne teased her. He glanced back at the templars, realizing they were becoming antsy. “It is about time for us to return, is it not?”

“It is, Enchanter,” one of them replied with an annoyed, gruff voice.

“Then let us not keep Lord Seeker waiting,” Etienne responded. “I am sure he suspects us of great crimes due to this.”

“Watch your tongue, mage,” the second snapped and Etienne merely smiled.

Aurora was sure it was to hide his nerves.

[dragon--sage]

all kidding aside about how badly astarion is trying to win at seduction in the forest scene, when he dropped the “that’s what you want, isn’t? to lose yourself in me?” i felt that in my bones... there is just something about the delivery here that guts me. there’s definitely a good amount of absolute buffoonery to his winning at seduction bits, but here—this line, i feel like it’s said with a bit of sadness and resignation? so it hits different than the others? astarion presumes at this point all mc could ever want with him is escape, is banking on that to solidify his foothold in the group, and while he's providing that to them he will escape in his own way, disassociating from the situation almost entirely. ugh i ache. (idk maybe i'm reading too much into this but i'm going to share with the class anyway.)

[dragon--sage]

i love when he :')

[dragon--sage]

current mood: thinking about how the rest of the party hangs back, but mc stays right w/ astarion when they approach cazador.

[dragon--sage]

( ´ཀ` ) astarion : ah, you're so adorable when you're thinking what to say. ( ᐛ )و tav : you're not going to think i'm so adorable in two seconds when i give (5) gold coin to this npc, best just shut up and kiss me my love.

[dragon--sage]

i'm so down bad for this elf that even when the kiss was glitched to hell (at least in my game) i would still repeat the action multiple times (and even record it). am i alone in this, i CAN'T be alone in this ?? ( no cyberbullying please ♡ )