#there’s just a lot of asterion

[shaydh]

Baldur’s Gate 3 not being niche has made me greatly appreciate 1 & 2 being niche. Less content but at least I can enjoy it in peace.

Mm yeah I do like a smaller fandom, but as far as I’m concerned it’s just me and my friends chatting about it on discord

[lloydfrontera]

actually i get very emotional when i think about the giant ants arc because when arcos is told that there's an entire colony of monsters that could easily destroy the estate the very first thing he asks is where lloyd is. and when he's told that he's still down in the mine he doesn't hesitate for even one second to grab his armor and go down there himself just to get to lloyd. like. those things are huge and they're vicious and there's hundreds of them and to face them is *checks notes* "to guarantee your own death". arcos hasn't even touched his sword for a decade. he's not winning that battle. but it doesn't fucking matter at all because his son is down there and arcos is going to get to him even if it kills him.

he just. he fucking loves his kid so much. and this is not even like that far ahead into the novel. lloyd is barely beginning to clean up his body's act. this is chapter 25 it's like 6% of the whole plot. and this man was already completely and unhesitatingly willing to die for his son. how am i supposed to not cry about that.

[doctorweebmd]

coming out of my baldurs gate 3 delirium (aka i am working a night shift and can't physically play it. at work.) to say that horikoshi. horikoshi when i GET YOU. you are NOT leaving izuku with no quirk and no arms. i am in your walls

[babsaros]

my baldurs gate adventuring party is currently 3 lesbians and a gay man to keep the peace

[thesaintelectric]

baldurs gate 3 is so good i finally understand the purpose of utility spells in dnd. woe hold person be upon ye and such

[badolmen]

“What do you eat then? Down here? There’s no sun.”

“There are roots. Here, let me show you.” It would be hard to follow him in the darkness, if not for the soft clatter of his hooves. The flickering torchlight makes him seem too small, too fragile - too much like an unweaned calf taken from its mother’s milk too soon.

“What happened to them?”

“Who?”

“The others. I’m not the first - and I know some have tried to…”

“This is my home. I know it well, they don’t. They got lost.” It is unsaid what fate befell them in this dark and unending prison. The Minotaur stops suddenly, and the startled hand that braces against his bare back is laid upon an old scar. He did not always escape the others unscathed.

“Sorry,” there’s the sound of movement, a too-human hand on stone. “I was just checking that we didn’t miss the turn - here.” His hands are warm as they lift another, smaller palm to the gouge in the wall. The torch light illuminates the markings, and the two different hands lingering over stone.

“How much further?”

“Not far. One more turn.” His words are truthful, the narrow passages opening to a larger cavern - the walls have been knocked down by brute force to make the small room livable.

There’s a dim pile of embers and a sooty clay pot in the center of the room. One wall has a threadbare approximation of a bed, and the other, dirt - black soil thick with the thready roots of the olive trees far, far above in the king’s garden. Water leaches from the damp soil, collected in a crude clay pan.

“Oh…it’s…” Words fail to convey the thought of Minotaur, a child too young to be on his own, living here for years. Growing up in the darkness, just scraping by, barely surviving.

“It’s nice, isn’t it? A bit cold. But the fire will warm us up quickly.” He sets the torch to the embers, handfuls of tinder gradually igniting and bringing more light to this damp, depressing abode. “Are you hungry? We can boil the roots - it’ll be easier for you to eat them that way.”

“You’ve had…guests before?”

“Or sorts. They don’t stay.” Those dark, soft, animal eyes shadow with loss as they dart back to the fire. “And they haven’t come back.”

“Oh.” Small hands take the offered clay cup. The water is earthy, Gaia’s milk run thin. “I’ll stay.” The Minotaur shakes his heavy head, tail swishing anxiously across the dusty stone floor.

“You can’t. Humans can’t survive down here, without the sun. You’ll get sick.”

Silence lapses between the two, the clay pot boiling and the pale roots growing tender in the water. When cooled and offered, they taste bitter.

“Do you know where the exit is?” It is a question asked with anxious curiosity, an undercurrent of sorrow already knowing the answer.

“No.” The fresh roots crunch between flat teeth. “I’ve looked. This maze was built to keep me and criminals sent here contained.” His furry face contorts, the expression of gentle suspicion alien on animal features. “What was your crime?”

There’s a soft sigh, fingers fidgeting with a loose thread.

“My brother was sent here. I challenged his sentence, directly. The king saw fit to send me to the same fate for daring to defy him in public.”

“Oh.” The Minotaur winces, too well acquainted with the haunting screams and pleas of the labyrinth’s victims to know one lost body from another. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I didn’t kill him.”

“I know. The king is the only one responsible for his sentence.”

“What crime did he commit, if I may ask?”

“He was born.” The words are raw, aching with fury and grief. “The gods cursed him - he was a monster.” The Minotaur huffs sympathetically.

“I understand.”

“More than most.” The tear shined eyes of the young woman gaze up at him with sad gratitude. “Thank you.”

“The food and water are the least I can offer, quite literally.”

“Thank you for being here.” The voice trembles, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I don’t know what I would have done had I been alone down here. Had I not found you.”

“Oh. Well, you’re welcome then.” The Minotaur shifts uneasily, awkwardly holding out a hand. “I’m Asterion, by the way. May I ask your name? I know you’ll leave to find the exit, but I’d like to remember you when you do.” The fragile hand that takes his has a firm and steady grip.

“My name is Ariadne, Princess of Crete.” Her eyes are sharp, clever and determined as she takes hold of his hand. In her other, she holds up a thin silver thread between her fingers.. “And I know where the exit is, little brother.”

Edit: Donate to Palestinians in Gaza

As punishment for your crimes you are thrown into the Labyrinth to be a living sacrifice to the Minotaur that lives inside. However nobody seemed to put together that since he is half bull; the Minotaur is actually a vegetarian.

[illusorysinger]

he has a fucking name you know

[h00f]

T4TM (Theseus4TheMinotaur)

lost wax cast bronze, patina & paste wax

2023

(process photos & info under cut <3)

my minotaur boy!! pls click on the photos for higher res! my thesis is focusing on trans men and creatures (how original ik) and this was last semester's final. i spent a lot of time looking at sculptures of the theseus/minotaur story, and yknow? a LOT of them are erotic! i'm pretty sure i saw some of them on tumblr a decade ago, and that's led to this now!

as you'll notice, the minotaur has a big t-dick! i wanted to give him breasts and an enlarged clitoris to present a very masculine trans figure. the boy on the bottom is also trans because i say so . the piece is about looking up to older, bigger, hairier trans men and seeing something awe-inspiring and beautiful. the minotaur was locked up by a cruel father for being different, and i think modern adaptations tend towards a sympathetic asterion (his name in one version)

making this piece was. so much effort. it took me about 3 months to get it all together - from clay model (plasticine) to 3D print to silicone mold to wax cast, and finally bronze pour into the shell mold. and then a TON of filing, sanding, dremel-ing, and various other metalworking techniques that probably took years off my life.

i started with sketches and made theeeeeee ugliest model ever:

then used a 3D scanner to get it digital, then spent a goooood month or two making him pretty in blender! then i spent an agonizing few weeks trying to get it print-ready, and fiiiiiinally did

^^^ an early resin printed draft of the model - you can see in the final that i added lots to theseus after some feedback, but sadly the nosering broke off every time i cast it so i just. let that be <3

then came the moldmaking, and then the wax dipping!! the yellow stuff is shell mold (ground up ceramic bits and algae soup, sticks to the wax, then silica sand in varying sizes on top) which gets the wax melted out, and bronze poured in!

then it's all metalworking, cutting stuff off, and working with hot metal. they don't tell you about all the bronze dust and how annoying it gets wearing a respirator AND goggles. but it is for me health, me boy. here's him all cleaned up before the patina:

and then i spray him down with various chemicals to make it "patina" (aka rust) in pretty colors. wait a few days, then apply paste wax to seal it and give it that shine!

then we get what you see above!!! the blue was actually unintentional, and i'm still not super sure why it looks that way.. but it's pretty so idc <3

thanks for reading!! if you ever have any bronze/casting questions, don't hesitate to message me! <3

[ohnoitstbskyen]

... y'all know Lae'zel is acting scared, right?

Video transcription: I've seen a lot of comments on my short about Lae'zel dismissing her entire character because she's mean and��� I'm just checking in here… you guys know she's scared, right? She's terrified. She was kidnapped by the worst monster she knows, infected with the most horrifying death anyone in her culture can have, and then stranded on a hostile world, alone, with nothing to guide her except the dogmatic military cult indoctrination of a cruel lich demigod, telling her that her only hope of salvation is to follow Gith doctrine with total unyielding faith. And still she tries to save you. When she keeps insisting that you must get to the Githyanki crèche, it's our only hope, she's trying to guide you towards the only salvation she knows from the parasite, so she can share it with you. And Gith... aren't supposed to do that, saving an outsider is not part of the doctrine, she's breaking the rules trying to do right by you. None of that means she's not being an asshole, she's rude, dogmatic and unpleasant. But everything she does comes from a genuine, very misguided and abrasive, desire to do the right thing. It doesn't make her behaviour okay, but there is more to her character than just "being the mean one."

To expand on this a bit more than I can in a 60 second short, people acting from fear and from their damage is a major theme among the Baldur's Gate 3 companions.

Lae'zel is terrified and falling back on the only thing she believes will give her back some control over her situation, which is the dogma of the military cult she's in. Shadowheart is much the same, amnesiac and grasping on to the only solid thing she knows, which is her faith, which preaches deception, loss and duplicity as the only certain factors in life.

Gale is an inveterate people-pleaser desperately dependent on other people to help him feed his magic addiction, with his overtly affable exterior hiding a rolling boulder of guilt, ambition, greed, arrogance and legitimate hurt. Asterion is... well, no way to really lay out his deal without spoiling, but the boy has been through it and his self-destructive, hedonistic and selfish impulses are all coping mechanism and self-defense all the time.

None of that make their shitty behaviours okay, but in a fictional story, those kinds of flaws and toxic behaviours are what make for interesting stories and characters. I don't blame anyone for finding Lae'zel unpleasant and abrasive, but I do get a bit Old Man Yells At Cloud about people who casually brag about shoving her off a cliff-side, or murdering her because "she was a bitch" or whatever.

Like... being unable to face discomfort in your media is not a virtue, and lashing out reactively against fiction that doesn't validate your power fantasy isn't a flex.

Of course, I saw a lot of those reactions in YouTube comments and on social media, so my sample is biased by those algorithms, but still. A lot of people seem aggressively proud that they never engaged with her story because the terrified indoctrinated child-soldier wasn't immediately nice to them and I can't explain it but something about that reaction feels puritan to me.

[primordial-shade]

Minotaur Partner Headcanons

Hellloooo I’m back, very sorry for being away but honestly I uploaded those previous two posts on a whim and came back from Spain to my tumblr having loads of notifications. SO thank you and here’s another segment of my Monster Lover Headcanons with the Minotaur! One a bit of a Greek fix lately so here we go.

Background

Minotaurs. Big beefy and sweet as all hell.

Headcanon for how they started? Easy, out Mr Original, Asterion the sweet poor lamb (BTW for those who maybe don’t know that was the Minotaur’s original name) did actual kill the sacrifices but tried to help them but they all fled in fear of him and died in the Labyrinth except one, a lovely lady I’m going to call Hemera.

She ended up staying in the labyrinth with Asterion, falling in love and determined to get them both out.

Theseus fucks along and when he’s about to kill her beloved she knocks him the fuck out, uses the yarn to get them all out, then fucks off with her hubby to the Mountains and lets everyone think Theseus killed him by leaving behind part of his broken horn.

They start a farm up in the mountains (With support from Asterions mother Persiphae and his sisters and eventually his brother in Law Dionysus who are happy Asterion is alive and happy cuz FUCK MINOS.)

Eventually they have several kids (Adorable as fuck) and a thriving mountain farm that the kiddos inherited.

As such Minotaurs are all related, and as such they often seek human partners.

Minotaurs like in mountainous regions, often protected by the God Dionysus, whose wife is all their many times great aunt who was forced to marry Theseus and tried to kill him and only gave him the yarn so her brother could kill him and use it to get out we love you Adriane <3

They grow lots of things but they are famous for wine 😉

White, red, rose, dessert. They make every type and its so fucking good.

Maybe you’re a wine coniseur, maybe you decided to go visit the farms on holiday, maybe you’re a local they trade with or a worker on the farm.

Needless to say when you catch a Minotaurs eye, you are staying for good.

SFW

Big sweethearts. Big beefy adorable sweethearts. Muscled as fuck and strong, with big soulful eyes and soft fur and hnghhghhg

I got fucking sidetracked

Anyway, Minotaur’s are very family orientated and all work on the huge collective farms in various roles. Don’t worry, wether or not you can contribute to the farm is moot, you’re their love and you don’t have to prove yourself in anyway and also if you’re human they kinda get overprotective and its like, ‘no please don’t help we don’t want you to get bruised or tired we love you just go and relax and let us do all the hard work baby <3.’

The hardest of workers, baby if you have a minotaur partner one of your main jobs is teaching them not to overwork themselves because they just wanna be good and make sure everything is good and they can’t stand doing nothing or not taking care of you.

If they could physically carry you around all the time, and this is more about your want to walk because they could carry you around all the time, you’re their Love, their sweet delicate loves. Please let them carry you around, it makes them so happy.

Their favourite thing in the world is taking care of you.

You’re hungry? They will literally go out to the farm and find the juiciest, best tasting produce and will hand feed it to you.

You have achy muscles? Oh poor baby, let them get their big strong hands and soothe all those aches and pains away.

If you do the same for them??

Ooooh, love, love love love.

They’re favourite thing? Honestly is when you lay down and they can curl up and put their head on your lap, letting you scratch their heads and between their horns.

Ooooh you scratch between their horns or behind their ears?? Very happy Minotaur, very happy wiggly minotaur. You’ll be lucky if you can get up for the next few hours, this is a pleasure that is rare and cherished.

They will also always show off. They can’t help it they just so want to impress you.

They’ll play fight with other Minotaurs in front of their loves, pick up heavy things, lift you up and carry you around.

They love making flower crowns too, and any crafts they take up they’ll make you something.

They love being praised. They absolutely love it, please praise them. Tell them how strong they are, how sweet they can be, how soft there fur is or how lovely their eyes are. They will melt, making soft little ‘moo’ sounds out of sheer pleasure.

They will also praise you constantly.

Your talents, your looks, even how you breathe. If it can be praised they will do it.

They also take a little longer to fall in Love, it’s a long term distrust thing, but once they do they fall *hard*.

And they will do anything in their power to prove this love to you. They love hard and they love deeply.

Bless their hearts but for a long time they’ll probably act like a Minotaur in love until one moment when they see you holding  a baby Minotaur, or if the sun catches on your face the right way or even just sitting together and drinking something warm and suddenly it’s like a switch goes off in their heads.

“I love this person. ILOVE THIS PERSON!!” Nothing but joy and love and warmth.

Very physically affectionate. Hugs, cuddles, handholding, licking, kissing….

Yeah, their love language is love and praise. Which leads us into

NSFW:

So Minotaurs are big. In every way.

Not only are they generally built like strongmen. All muscles and covered in a nice thick layer of fat, male and female Minotaur are built this way.

Big muscles, big breasts and pecs, fat cocks and pussies. Everything is big and ready for you to feast upon.

One of the major things they like doing to you is lick.

Their tongues are thick and long, and they love to lick the taste of your salty sweat from your skin, to lick your salty semen and tangy arousal from your pussy or cock. They long to spread you open and lock you clean or flick their tongue over your most sensitive parts.

Sit on their face. Don’t give them any bullshit about being to heavy they are fucking Minotaurs and you will sit on their face so help them Dionysus.

Suffocation??? Who gives a shit about that, fucking sit on them and let them eat your ass/pussy out!!!!! If they die they die, and they will die with no regrets.

They are so soft with you though, loving touches and praising how good you taste and feel around and in them. How good you sound calling their names and begging for them. Such a darling thing, a sweet pretty love.

Yeah they are the kings/queens of accidental overstim. It’s always just one more orgasm, one more sweet baby, just give me one more. God they love you so much, please let them keep going, please just one more orgasm, just one more sweet orgasm.

Your legs will be shaking, you’ll be cockdumb/pussydrunk to the point you can barely speak but you keep going because you love them so much and gods it feels so fucking good.

You will be covered in fluids. Cum, semen, spit, all over the place. Covering your skin, filling your mouth, filling you. There will not be an area untouched by them and you love it.

[matchapancaekes]

When discussing the content disparity between Wyll and the other Origin characters+Halsin, it’s not about “pitting” the characters against each other.

It’s highlighting what content and suggestions got green lit and what didn’t.

It’s the writers for Asterion and Dark Urge working closely together, and allowing for Asterion to have a completely unique experience with Dark Urge that other Origin characters, not just Wyll, do not have despite budget and time constraints.

In contrast, Wyll’s entire character was scrapped, shoddily rewritten, and recast incredibly close to launch. Despite fans reaching out to Larian, very few patches were made regarding his content and his dialogue/quest line continued to be underwhelming and, frankly, glitchy.

You can hug and kiss most romanced (and even non-romanced) characters in the epilogue.

In Wyll’s Blade of Avernus ending when you both go to Avernus with Karlach, there is no unique romance options, not even to hug or kiss him. Even when Wyll is not romanced, there is no option to hug him like the others.

At Pax East, they revealed that Wyll had a “big moment” that was scrapped and then did not elaborate. This was also in the midst of their announcement that they would not be adding new content to the game.

Wyll is the only Origin character that lacks a persuasion check or a “let Wyll make his choice” option at the climatic point of his character quest (breaking his pact or diving deeper into his pact with Mizora).

Wyll is also the only Origin character to lack a unique hairstyle not available to the Player. It’s a small detail, but it shows, especially with their one Black character, to not have a dedicated hairstyle for him.

And, most glaringly, Wyll does not have an overt sex scene. Now, as an ace person, Wyll having a sex scene isn’t super important to me. But, for those who enjoy that stuff and that the fact that he is the only one, yet again, is objectively unfair. I can skip it. But I can’t even do that because it’s not even there.

I’m not saying Larian should keep making Baldur’s Gate content if their “heart isn’t in it” or if it’s later revealed that they were getting a bad end of a deal. More power to them. They created a great game that gave a lot of people community and a sense of belonging.

But not for everyone. The disparity and lack of acknowledgment of their lead Black character should not be swept under the rug as they bow out.

[ingiwar-evil]

Yes! @cyberobsessed and I have finally completed this big job.

There were a lot of edits in the process regarding papa bear, but it was worth it. I should write a little preface to the art so that people understand the context. Forgive my poor English.

I am extremely saddened that we are given so few interactions with Halsin. And at the very first location, there is also an opportunity to collect a couple of honeycombs. A coincidence? I don't like that the big guy is silent for all two acts, and there is not even a hint of his gaze in our direction.

Based on the nature of my Tav, I thought that his and Halsin's first cutscene would look something like art. Asterion is present on the art. He is Tav's main friend and assistant in her love affairs. He also suffered from bee stings XD

Tav just wanted to do something good for Halsin, because his help and care mean a lot to her. These are the consequences. I don't think She was disappointed.

After all, they're kind of on an informal date, ahaha. Tav and Asterion managed to get the honey anyway. Only with small consequences.

[lloydfrontera]

i keep thinking of asterion almost killing himself trying to bring back rakiel for years because he believes this is the only way he can atone for what he did to his child, this is the only way he can finally do his duty as a father and the only thing he can do for the son that he lost. for both of them.

and theo doesn't. really know how he's supposed to feel about it. if he should be glad their father is trying so hard to bring his brother back. if he should be bitter because it's too little too late. if he should try to stop him or not. if he's supposed to want to keep his father alive or to have his brother back more. if he should hold onto what little broken parts of his family there's left or latch onto the almost non-existent hope of having the part he cares the most about once more.

but there is a small part of him that wonders if there's something wrong with him. if there's something he's missing. if there's something about him that just makes him not worth staying for.

and he still doesn't really trust his father, he still hasn't quite forgiven him for everything he made them go through, he doesn't really quite know if he really wants or can be a family with the man when it was his brother that made them even resemble one in the first place but. he doesn't want to be alone either. he doesn't want to be left behind again.

it doesn't really matter though. his father has never listened to him when it comes to his petty little feelings about family. why would he start now.

[monsterkin-culture-is]

10 Monster & Mythological Kintypes You Might Not Have Kinsidered!

Quick intro! I want to do some more monsterkin related original blog posts & content to make this blog more of a community hub for the monsterkins of tumblr. I'll be using #thebitingblogger for these posts! TW for some very mild mentions of gore in the context of mythology.

10. Haunted Dolls: There is definitely a large dollkin community on Tumblr but I haven't seen many haunted dolls/plushies. They're such a staple of horror media & spiritual subcultures - I'm so surprised by their absence!

9. Werecats & Other Werebeasts: The werewolfkin community on here is already limited but the werecat tag is tiny (and I don't think there even are tags for any other werekintypes)! Maybe the concept just hasn't been explored enough yet but given the popularity of other feline kintypes I wouldn't be surprised if there were some undiscovered werecats. I'd also like to add on about hellhounds & hellcats! Plenty of mythology there but a rather empty part of the kin community.

8. Revenants: Revenants are reanimated corpses revived to haunt the living. They're most prominent in Western European & Norse folklore. I can see some similarities to ghost & zombie kins but given we already have other subtypes & related kins (phantomkin etc) there is definitely a place for them in the kin community. Honestly as I'm writing this I'm starting to kinsider whether my skeletonkin might be a revenant...

7. Headless Horsemen: I suppose this is technically a human but I'd consider them a potential type of undead or spirit! The headless horseman is a recurring myth in a lot of Western Europe & America. My favourite version is the Dullahan from Irish folklore. The Dullahan is a mysterious omen, causing death whenever he stops riding. He carries his head in his arms and wields a whip made of human spine. The most famous media depiction is probably Disney's "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad." I think you can tell I'm a little bit in love with the horseman mythos...

6. Minotaurs, Centaurs & Fauns: I'm not sure I'd consider these monsters but they fit with the themes of the rest of the list! A minotaur is a man with the upper half/head of a bull, a centaur is a man with the body of a horse and a faun is a man with the legs of a goat or deer, often accompanied by horns or antlers. Man is being used without gender here. I originally was only going to write about Minotaurs as I've seen plenty of centaur & faun kins but there's no harm in including everyone! I'm not going to type out the entire mythology of these creatures but a fun fact for you is that the Minotaur of Crete's real name was Asterion!

5. Selkies: Again, not sure if these would be monsters but they fit the list & some retellings portray them as such! Selkies are humans (by appearance, not species) that can take the form of seals using their fur coats. If their coat is stolen, they can be forced to marry the person who has it.

4. Gorgons: Just talking about these as a species rather than their specific Greek mythos. Gorgons are humans with hair made of snakes. Often different interpretations give them patches/designs of scales, snakelike markings and/or fangs. My favourite modern depiction of a gorgon is Viperine from Monster High!

3. The Grim Reaper: I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been kinsidering this for a while! There are hundreds of personifications of Death throughout the history of humanity but the Reaper is probably one of the most recognisable in modern times. The Grim Reaper is most frequently depicted as a skeleton in a cloak, suit of armour or robes, bearing a farmer's scythe (it harvests souls like crops). I've been talking about media interpretations of these throughout so shoutout to Discworld Death, one of my favourite comfort characters! I love the animated version of Soul Music.

2. Shade: Finding information on this one was a little challenging! Shades are the spirits, ghosts or apparitions of someone currently residing in the underworld.

1. Custom Monsters: Got a bunch of phantom limbs that don't match a different kin? Have memories of being/feel like a cryptid that doesn't currently exist as a legend? Be your own monsterkin. Be a kin of your own species. I have one! I just need to actually draw them...

That's all folks! 10 more niche monster & mythological kintypes for you to kinsider! Please send me an ask (anon is enabled) or reblog or whatever if you're any of those kintypes, I'd love to hear from you! As always, please do your own research on these species & their folklore, I've only done some brief googling to add some more context to this list. This blog is for entertainment purposes, not educational! Let me know if you guys like seeing this sort of content though, I've really enjoyed researching this so I might start doing some more in-depth and well-researched posts on some of these.

[thelikesoffinn]

Bro why do u hate ascended Asterion so much? He's still asterion

Would you believe me if I told you that I actually don't hate ascended Astarion? Because I really don't!

Now, do I think it's a sad ending? Yes, yes I do. But do I hate it? Absolutely not.

Quite the opposite, actually. I do like the ascended ending for what it is - the bad ending. It's really really well written and I do enjoy it in it's own special way. What I don't like, however, is the attitude a lot of people face it with.

This entire 'ascension is the best ending for him' and 'it's the right choice for him, even if it isn't good'. 'not letting him ascend is selfish because that is what he wants!', 'he still loves you after ascension' and 'he's still the same, just strong' is what I dislike.

Like, if you're into that ending and you prefer it for some reason, that's totally cool, but claiming this is the best ending for him? Damn, that hurts my heart and my soul.

Why I can't even say. Maybe it's because of who I am - both a social worker and a child raised by abusive, narcissistic parents - but to me it's glaringly obvious what ascension will cost him. It's so clear what he is giving up and WHY he is giving it up because, in my own way, I've been there myself. And I've worked with people who've been there as well. (Less murderous, obviously, but equally as self-destructive!)

And because I've been there - on both sides, his and Tav's - I know that none of that will be necessary if there's one person next to him that says 'Hey. Astarion, I know you're hurting but...you don't need to run and hide anymore. You're free and...you're enough.'

So everytime someone claims that ascension is the best ending for him, that it's his good ending and that not letting him ascend is the selfish thing to do, oh boy. It really grinds my gears!

But, in the end, I don't hate the ascended ending at all.

If we're talking companion-endings that I hate, I'd personally propose Karlach choosing death, actually! Because that? That's just unnecessarily dumb.

I know she doesn't want to go back and I know why, I really do, but the thing is...It won't be like before. Things have already changed and they will keep on changing from now on. She's a different Karlach already, so the change is unavoidable! I mean, she's not working for Zariel anymore and, even more importantly: She won't be alone! She has friends now, actual friends that would definitely accompany her if she asked them to. Shit, Wyll even offers it up on his own without being asked! She can come back to the surface from time to time, because it seems like her heart can take periods outside of Avernus as long as she returns once it get's bad. Like, shit, make the House of Hope your homebase, girl! Granted, Hope is a bit ditzy but I'm sure she'll be a joy to be around! And it doesn't even need to be forever! Like, come on, we're already trying to make sure that a fucking vampire can walk in the sun without the use of a tadpole or ascension, I'm sure we can all pencil in 'find a new heart for babygirl' or whatever. And there's Dammon!!! Dammon is smart and talented and unnecessarily handsome and lovable, so he'll surely find a way to fix that darn engine as long as she's alive!

So yeah, that's an ending I actually do hate! Maybe because it feels like conversations I have with clients all the time - scared people and people with trauma can be so extremely stubborn, believe it or not - so it just hits a nerve, haha.

(Oh and I also hate Lae'zel's ascension. The girl is so smart and still doesn't notice how full of shit Vlaakith is? Nah, that's just heresy, I won't accept that one. I know loyalty and morals are a thing, but still no. Blegh.)

[vulpixisananimal]

(Siffrin) {Mal Du Pays} <Null> |Asterion| [Loop] [(Saffron)]

[Market day!]

[You and the party were staying in a little town on your way to Wolworth And as luck would have it, it was market day! So, what better a time to have a lovely little date with your wonderful Red Giant~]

[You and Isa were running through the crowd, laughing, smiling. The sun was bright, the day was perfect.]

[(Then why are you so anxious?)]

[Ignore it, you squeeze Isabeaus hand.] "See anything you like~?"

"Hmmmm. . ." [He puts a hand to his chin.] "I mean I like a lotta things here! What about you?"

"Me?" [You pull him closer.] "Oh I have all I need right here~"

"H-heywait!!" [He's blushing, and you were already laughing.]

[You kept walking, (trying to ignore what happened at the Jouvente market), looking around, enjoying things. There were honey sticks, homemade cookies, some nice wood carvings, it really was a bananza of creativity.]

[(And you're still going to ignore what you read this morning?)]

[It's ALL you could do!! STARS!! You wake up all nice and ready for a perfect day with your Red Giant, you look at the journal and there!! A brand new voice to add to the chorus. And none of us have even met him!!]

[(And so you'll ignore it like a coward.)]

[Yes! This ASTERION can wait for later!]

". . . Oh!" [Isa stops, looking at one stall.] ". . ."

"Oh?" [You mimic,] "Find something you like~?"

"Aaaactually, doooo you know that person? I think I recognise them but. . ." [He replied, pointing in a direction.]

[You move next to him and try and look over the crowd, who was he talking about. . . There were a lot of random couples, groups, strangers, and. . . A stranger by one stand Isa was pointing at. You didn't recognise, but, no you. . .]

[(YOU.)]

[You almost jump in place, do you mind?!?]

[(You Don't remember who that is?? Are you a blinding idiot?!?)]

[The prompting of lovely Saffron jogged your memory. Stranger, on the road, talked about stars, universe, had food, and- universe, Universe.]

[(THAT. BASTARD.)]

"H-hey what's-" [(Isabeau starts, but you were already pushing your way through the crowd, step by step, untill you finally got to the tall figure with lightless hair.)]

". . . Oh!" [(The Universe smiled.)] "Hello again!"

[(You grab it and pull it around to look at you.)] "YOU!"

"What are you doing here!" [(Every hair on your head bristled and anger filled your eyes.)] "What are you BLINDING doing here!"

"L-loop what's gotten into you?!?" [(Isabeau caught up, trying to get you to calm down.)] "P-please, maybe just, calm down a bit?"

"No I will NOT calm down, Fighter!!" [(You glare at him, then back to the Universe.)] "You, y-you come here, after everything, to, to, to MOCK me?!? Haha, hahahahAHAHaha--"

"That's enough, now." [(The Universe huffed and wagged its finger.)] "Your ruinning Loops date. Leave us alone, Saffron."

[. . . You blink a few times and shake your head. That, what- STARS. You let go of Jinn in disgust. You didn't want to make a scene but your mind is YOUR BUSINESS!!]

"Oh! Sorry! It did look like he was giving you some trouble." [It replied.]

[Isabeau was looking confused between you and Jinn.] ". . . I feel like I've just missed a whole conversation."

"Oh! Yes!" [Jinn does a little curtsey.] "I'm Jinn, you remember me, yes?"

[Isa taps a finger on his chin, then snaps his fingers.] "Traveler we found on the road!"

"Yes!! You'll be happy to know I've kicked my passing out habits-"

"JINN-YYYYY" [A new, high pitched, energetic voice joined the conversation, shortly followed by a smaller figure crashing into Jinn. Their outfit was either a fashion disaster or fashion masterpiece. Everything was clashing and felt like your eyes couldn't focus on one thing for long. Which was weird because the outfit was just a very simple shirt, dress, and such.]

"Nebby!!" [Jinn giggled and ruffled their hair.] "Wandering off again? You're almost as bad as I!"

"Nuh uh!" [They giggled and kissed Jinns cheek.] "I sensed danger and came running- YOU!!!"

[You were surprised by the accusitory finger pointed at you.] "M-ME?!?"

"YOU'RE THE MEAN ONE!!!" [The stranger, named Nebby, tried to wiggle free of Jinn, but was unsucsessful.]

"W-whhhaaaatisgoingon-" [Isa was looking confused between all of you.]

"Please, Nebula, relax!" [Jinn lets go.] "Loop just has a lot of anger, and it's not like they can hurt me."

"I know that! But it's, it's the, theeeeee-"

"Principle?" [Isa offeres.]

"It's the PRINCIPLE of it!! THANK you Zaza!!" [Nebby moved quickly and booped Isa on the nose.]

". . . Okay, what's going on, who are you?!" [You ask, since Isabeau was too confused to.]

"Aww, don'tchya remember me?" [Nebby says with a pout.]

"Loop never met you, dear. Siffrin did, would you like t-" [Jinn was cut off by Nebbys enthusiastic nods.] "Alright, come on out, Siffrin."

(WhhUHHUH!?!!??!)

[?!??!??!?!?!??] "H-how, how, d-did you-" [You hold your head, you had a MASSIVE headache.]

(Nebby was practicly vibrating on the spot.) "HiSif!! Hiiii it's sooooo so good to see you again!!!"

(You look up, you, could recall some of what you did today. But, uh. .) ". . I, do, I know you?"

"Whaaat?!?" (Nebby looked shocked, then smiled!) "Oh RIIIIGHT! I have to do the THING!!!"

(The thing?)

[The thing?]

"Y'know! The thing! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧"

"The thing?" (Isa asks.)

[. . . . . Is that-]

"O-OH!" (T-THAT'S-)

"YAAAAY!!! ※\(^o^)/※" (The Change God flapped their hands excitedly.) "You remembeeerrred!!"

"Siffrin, Loop, why don't you introduce us?" [Jinn leans down and asks you politely.]

"FINE." [You hunch down, frustrated, but, you had to, for Isabeau.] ". . . . Jinn, Nebby, ttthhhhiiiiis is Isabeau. And, Isa, this is. . ." [You take a breath.] "Nebby, the Change God. A-and, Jinn, The Universe, or Ke- k-keao--."

"Oh!! Oh no need for the full name please!!" [Jinn frantically clarified as you massaged your throat, stars, that hurt.]

". . . . . ." [Isabeau was, completely silent for exactly thirteen seconds.] ". . . O-OH!"

"You're bigger in person!!" [The Change God stepped up to Isabeau, and poked him.] "Sooo much bigger!! Wow I should get out more!!!"

"Nebby, dear, let the mortal have his existential crisis for a moment."

"Awww, but he's so cute!! AND cool looking!!! And a real go getter with changing things up, too!!" [Nebby turned back to Jinn excitedly, then back to Isa. Who, at this point was still processing everything.]

(What the, the stars is going on.)

"Myself and my bonded are just taking a trip together! A little, 'date' you could say~" (Jinn giggled into its hand.)

"YEAH! 'Cause you OWE me, Jinny!" (Nebby pouted and teased their bonded.) "With the whole timey freezy timey loopy thing?"

"Y-yes, ah, I, did. . . A-anyway! What about you two!"

[You squint.] "Don't you know?"

"It's called being POLITE, Loopert!" [Nebby stuck their tongue out.] "YEAH I remember that cute widdle nickname, heheh."

[STARS.] "Fine! Just, we're on a date too. I wanted a nice, relaxing day at the fair. Clearly that's not what the Universe had in mind!" [You say, momentarily forgetting just who you were talking to.]

"Oh no, your day will be far from spoiled, dear." [Another small giggle from Jinn.] "It's your day with Isabeau. You all like him, don't you?"

"YEAH!! You and everyone in that head of yours!!" [Nebby interrupts.] "All uh, one.. Two.. Seve-"

"Don't spoil it, love!" [Jinn bapped Nebby on the head.] "Let the mortals figure that out by themselfs!"

"I- wait." [Seven-]

"Would you like to go on a walk with us, you two?" [Jinn interrupts.] "We would enjoy the company.

". . That sounds good to me!" [Isa finally speaks up again. His expression was one you had never seen before; some mix of horror, curiosity, confusion, and disbelief.] "Double date with two gods? Why not!"

"Dawww Zaza!! That's suuuch a good idea!!" [Nebby was still flapping in glee.] "Y'get all those confused thoughts outta your head yet?"

"Uh, I-"

"Didn't think so!! That's okay c'mon lets go!!!" [Nebby interrupted Isa, then grabbed Jinns hand and started excitedly pulling it in a new direction.]

[Despite your absolute disgust and horror, you were compelled to follow. Isa holding your hand. You look up, he looks pale as a ghost.] ". . . Are you. ."

"The Change God knows about me?" [Oh he was deffinatly not over any of this.]

"I, y-yeah."

"The Change God is dating your god and knows about me?"

"It's okay, just get it out of your system."

". . . . . . Okay!" [He laughed nervously.] "I'll try and be normal about all this!"

"Stars, my wonderful Red Gaint you have no need to be normal about THIS!"

"OH!!!" [Nebby pointed excitedly at one stall.] "Let's look at that one!!"

[They ran over, Jinn, and by extention you both, running to catch up. Nebby had found a setup from a craftsman who was showing off all kinds of nicknacks. Statues, masks, clothes, a scouple swords, art, the style looked familiar.]

"This is SO COOL!!!" [Nebby was taking in every little detail, and started talking to the person running the stand. Oh if only they knew just who Nebby was.]

"It is pretty good craftsmanship. . ." [Isabeau, naturally, had gravitated to some of the clothes, you could have sworn the style was familiar.]

[You wander over to the few swords on display, they were-]

"A curved Ka Buan blade!" <Your eye widened.> "And that's Ka Buan calligraphy, did you make these?"

"Aye!" <The Craftsman answered.> "Ma 'Nan was from Ka Bue and they taught me a lot and I kept it up!"

<You beamed like you hadn't before, looking over the arts and crafts. Such intricate and delicate work, masks with little details that a fine eye was needed for. You joined Isabeau in admiring the clothes, Nebby looking at the small statues, Jinn at admiring the art. You were too absorbed in admiration to remember just who you were next to.>

[?!?!?!?!?!??!?!!???!]

<Ah. Sorry.>

"Everything alright, both of you?" <Jinn asked. It took you a second to realize it's talking to you.>

". . Yes." <You looked away. Take front back, Loop, please.>

[Of course~] "Just got surprised, is all~"

"I understand. . ." [The two of you stood quiet. You look back to see Isa was getting over his shock, since he was talking casually with Nebby.]

<. . .>

[. . .] "Jinn. . . Why."

"Why? Why what?"

"You know why."

". . . I'm. . ." [It looked at you for a moment, then away.] ". . . I have no excuse, Loop. I'm. . . I'm sorry."

<What.>

[What.]

[From the back of your mind, you could hear echoes of others saying that one, simple word.]

". . ." <It, took Jinn a moment to continue.> ". . . I am bound as a God to grant any wish if done right. And all I remember of our home is that whatever wish I granted to cause. . . That, was one where there was no other option."

"What you remember?" [Shouldn't it-]

"No. I don't." [It looked, sad.] "My memory of it is gone. And many of those who followed me no longer do. . . Do you know a gods existence is tied to those who believe in them?"

". . . No. . ?" [Your eye widens.] "Then, wouldn't that. . ."

"Oh they still believed." [Jinn nodded.] "But they knew not that they did. Directionless, nameless. If it weren't for the strong cultural ties to Vaugarde, I would be naught but dust. . ."

". . ." <Your mind was clicking things into place.> ". . . Let me guess. After all of that, it left your skills of wishmaking in tatters?"

<You glance at it and it has its head in its shoulders, embarrassed?> ". . . . Y-yes, that, yes. . ."

"Buuuuut it's getting better!!" [In a flash Nebby was back by Jinns side nuzzling up to it. It had a statue from The Craftsman in their hand.] "Sooooo much better considering the LAST few wishes!!"

"I-it wasn't for anything so major!" [It reassures your horrified face.] "I, I-I am trying my best to not cause, more grief."

"Right. . ." [You think back to Wren and his wish, Vixul, Polaris-]

"Oh I'll keep him in mind!" [Jinn interupted your thoughts, smiling.] "All of them, actually. You'll see them again in time."

". . . . ." <You sigh.> "It's. . . Fine."

"Hey Loop!" <Isa calls to you, he was looking at the sword. You lift up your eyepatch.> "O-oh- Null you weeeere interested in these?"

"Maybe. . ." <You go back to the swords, one of them called out to you. You turned to The Craftsman.> "May I pick it up. . Thank you." <At their nod, you pick up the sword. Or TRY to.>

"Too heavy?" <Isa says at you struggling a little.>

"Blind it all-" <You scowled, why did this body have to be so, frail. So weak. So. . . No, it had some of its own upsides, at least. But. . .> ". . . Where it not for the weight, and price, I'd. . ."

<Isabeau glances from you, then to the duo of gods, then back, to you.> "I mean, if-"

"Shall we move on?" [Jinn stepped forward and out of the stall without waiting for an answer. You set the sword down and followed, of course.]

[It stops right outside of the stall, and turns back to you. You squint.] "What are y-"

[It cuts you off with a hug.]

[It's, it's an impossibly warm, comfortable hug. A hug that felt like one only a parent could give. One that, that was saved for those who needed it most. The kind of hug that could fix a person. . .]

"I'm. . . So proud of you, Loop."

[The words hit you stronger than any of the Kings attacks.]

[. . . It lets you go, and curtsies.] "Even with my blunders, you did so, so well, I'm proud of you."

"Uh huh!!!" [You felt Nebby punch your shoulder, then walked to Jinns side.] "And look at you now!!! Going on a DATE!!! You!! On a date!!!"

"Even sharing a body as you are, you're still finding ways to survive, no, thrive."

"Thrive is right!! You should have fun while you're here!! Maybe ask your new boyfriend about Vaugardian Culture!"

[They both giggle at that, what? What does THAT mean?!? You stared at them both in disbelief. The God of Change and Entropy, time, and decay. The God of the Universe, of everything that ever was, and ever will be. . . And they're. . . You're, you're crying. Isabeau's at your side, taking your hand.]

". . . . Until next time." Take care, Siffrin.

"Bye bye!! See you around!!" I'll be watching, Siffy ♡⸜(ˆᗜˆ˵ )⸝♡

[In a blink, they dissapeared. The crowds around you moving on like nothing ever happened. You were left standing there, trying to understand what, just, happened. . .]

". . . . I uh. . ." [Isa starts, then coughs into a hand.] ". . . Heading back time?"

"Y-yes please." [You mumble, the two of you heading off-]

"Aye!! You two wait up!!" <You turn, The Craftsman had walked up to you and shoved that sword into your arms.> "Can't be forgetting this, aye? Those friends of yours got it for ya!"

<What. The Craftsman walked back to the stall and now you were left dumbfounded. They, BOUGHT it for you?!?>

[Weren't we struggling to lift it earlier???]

<I- You're holding the sword easier. You unsheeth the blade a little and, no, it's a real sword. A well crafted, well made sword of steel yet, it was, light.>

<You look up at Isabeau, squinting. He's looking away.>

". . . Isabeau?"

"Y-yes, Null?"

"Did you make a wish?"

"N-no!! No I didn't- I, uh-" <His head sinks down.> "I-Iuh, just, asked, N-nebbyforafavor--"

". . . . . . ."

[He's gone mad, how could-]

<You walk up to him and tug on his shirt untill you're face to face.> "If you wanted to get my attention, Isabeau, a sword is the perfect gift."

<You give him a small kiss, then let go. You can see his mind break in real time. You take his hand in one of yours, your new weapon in the other, and head back to the inn.>

[. . . You got the AIRY KATANA!]

[Lowers speed, increses attack, and gives a chance to reflect some attacks!]

[. . . Just like you remember it. . .]