#mccnrxse // astarion

[fereldensheroesa]

@mccnrxse, Gale for Astarion (the wheel has spoken)

As pressing as matters were and as odd as the group's situation was, he couldn't help but think the vampire of this motley crew was a particularly curious case. The parasite had changed him in ways that shouldn't be possible. Like it was... protecting. A vampire who could no longer burn in the sun... yet the thirst remained? Where was the line in what this illithid creature would do? And how could it save Astarion in ways that it wasn't saving himself or Karlach, both were approaching what could easily be their dooms...

As all of this ran through his mind, he was absolutely unaware of the passage of time. And the fact that his gaze had never once left Astarion in the process. Wonderful and accidental staring.

[loyalborn]

@mccnrxse sent: ❝ it's good to see you again, mom ❞ ( from astarion )

For a moment, Estelle thought she was dead, that she died and had forgotten her own death. That would be why her son, long dead and pale as snow, appeared before her. He was here to escort her to the afterlife.

But he was different, and not in ways one would expect a ghost to be. Red eyes and new scars on his neck. Silver eyebrows drew together as she took him in. Surely he would have appeared in the clothes he was either killed in, or buried in. But instead he wore something entirely different.

It felt silly, realizing her son was still alive all because of some clothes. But with it, her lips began to tremble and tears filled her eyes. She became an unstoppable force as she closed the space between them and wrapped him in a tight hug. "My little star," she sobbed. "My baby boy."

[faerunscursed]

[MAKE-UP]: while applying make-up on Karlach's face, Astarion cups their face in order to keep them still.

Karlach had never been a makeup person, even before her time in Avernus. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, simply because she was a tiefling. And while Tiefings were not uncommon in Baldurs Gate, they weren't always treated with decency. So, why put on make up when it would only make her more of something to poke at?

This was the same mentality that Karlach had as a grown woman. However, Astarion simply had a whim to put even just the faintest bit of make up on her and she didn't say no. That didn't mean she wasn't going freak the fuck out. She had no idea what he was doing to her face, and that caused an anxiety spike.

"I swear if you're making me look like some damn clown, you and I are going to have words." Karlach muttered as she tried her best to contain the constant anxiety of it all. More importantly she was highly insecure already. No amount of make up could distract from just how much a fiend she looked like, from her more impish tail to her curved devil-like horns...

"You know, no amount of makeup his going to hide all of my flaws right?" Karlach said, though tried to hide her insecurity through a fake smile. "Why are you doing this anyway? Since when do you care about fucking make up of all things?"

[alittlebitofmuse]

"He does have a hell of an ass." ( from Shadowheart, to Astarion )

" Mmm... "

Astarion hummed thoughtfully, tilting his head to the other side to get a different perspective. He brought a delicate hand to his chin as he admired the Archdruid's backside with the cleric. They currently had a great view as the other man was bent slightly over the campfire.

" Indeed, he does... " he mused, casting a playful sideways glance at Shadowheart, " Do you ever wonder if every aspect of him is so large--? "

[faerunscursed]

Lack of knowledge of what she would look like on the outside aside, Karlach didn't know a damn thing about make up. This wasn't something she had worn as a child, as her parents believed in more natural beauty. They taught her to be accepting of who she was and how she looked without such tools, and for her it was enough. But now they were gone and all their teachings were whispers in the wind.

"I can't help it dammit, I'm not used to someone messing about with my face." Karlach muttered, very much unaware that her leg was shaking from her anxiety prior. At least not until he had sat himself on them, which seemed to calm her nerves enough to steel herself. "Listen I'm just not used to this alright?" She took a deep breath and did her best to stay calm. What kind of make up went around her eye, though? Karlach found herself slightly curious to see it when it was done, despite her insecurity.

The second he stopped to look into her eyes and asked her the question, she intentionally directed her own eyes elsewhere. She didn't need to show him just how insecure she felt in comparison to her usual act. "That engine is a feature alright, a feature that will end up killing me. You may joke about it now, but sooner or later this engine will spine out of control and I won't be able to do anything about it." Karlach remained silent for the rest of the time, letting Astarion do is work. Though, she did catch the hint of a smile on his face as he offered a mirror. "I didn't take you for the type to read those kind of books, Astarion."

The tiefling reached for the mirror and was fully prepared to look in the mirror and judge herself silently. However, what happened instead of was pure shock. For a moment she didn't even recognize parts of herself, specifically the eye shadow. It added something to her that wasn't there before, made her eyes pop. "Wow, this looks proper good. Almost didn't recognize myself." She couldn't dare drop the word beautiful, but it was damn close. "Thank you." Karlach set he mirror down and frowned. "Did you really mean all of that? Do really think there is nothing wrong with me?"

✧ . ┊ continuing this ; @faerunscursed

❝Gods, no. Clowns are creepy as hell, I wouldn't subject you or myself to that.❞ A shiver ran down his body, although he knew it wasn't what she meant. Not really anyway.

As he kept working on her make-up Astarion noticed more and more signs of her being anxious, the most recent and obvious one being Karlach shaking her leg. It was probably involuntary and she didn't even know she was doing that, but it was distracting. Without saying anything, Astarion sat down on her leg to stop it from shaking and continued looking at the small color palette he had picked up somewhere along their travels. ❝You need to calm down,❞ he said with almost no emotion, then focused on applying something the book he read called an eye shadow.

For a moment he stopped and looked right into her eyes. ❝What flaws?❞ he asked genuinely confused and curious. ❝Are you talking about the engine? That is not a flaw, but a feature – not going to lie, it sometimes makes me want to sleep next to you because you're so warm.❞ He focused on the make-up again, fully intending to ignore any objection she was about to make about having flaws. ❝Well, you know, staying in the camp for long gets boring, and it turns out Gale has a very strange, but quite fascinating collection of books. One of them was about make-up. I have no idea why he has that, but I'm not complaining — interesting reading material.❞ He leaned back a little to admire his work. ❝There. You're ready,❞ he smiled and handed Karlach a mirror so she could see his work. It wasn't bad in his opinion. He was following the book to a T, and, honestly, she looked amazing. Well, she looked amazing before too, but now her fiery, golden eyes seemed to pop.

[infinitysagas]

Sender: @mccnrxse Prompt:    “   I followed you in, and I'll follow you out.   ” (for either Tarzan or Geralt, from either Kaya or Astarion)

“I hardly expect such loyalty.” Not because he thought them impossible of showing it, but because Tarzan knew he was the sort to seek out dangerous situations. The thrill of the adventure above the risks involved. In the wilds that did inspire a certain amount of loyalty, why wouldn't you pledge yourself to someone who has survived so long in a multitude of circumstances? Here things weren't quite the same.

[dreadgloom]

" red looks good on you. " [ from astarion ]

blood, blood, gallons of the stuff . . . accepting . . . @mccnrxse

The drow’s ears twitched at the compliment as they sheathed their short swords. Dror Ragzlin lay between the two rogues as his life blood pooled on the broken stone floor from the numerous stabs and slices the pair had dealt the hobgoblin. ❝ You did good as well. But stay focused, the drow is next. Once she is taken care of I will be happy to trade banter and mild flirtations once more. ❞ The ranger rolled their stiff shoulders. Just a few moments could be spared to loot the corpses before they would have to move if they wanted to be able to catch the last camp leader by surprise.

[itsalcngstory]

019 [ from Astarion hehe ]

Perhaps she was placing too much trust in him; he certainly did sneak up on her in the night, hovering with fangs bared in the low moonlight and dim, orange hues of the campfire nearby. Perhaps she should have obtained a stake and went to attack when she had been swift to understand just what he was. Yet. . .they've been traveling for some time now, working together in fights - she had protected him, he had protected her. Perhaps. . .despite the concern still raging in her chest, there was already some amount of trust placed in him she would deny the truth of until now.

". . .Fine, but not a drop more than you need, alright?"

A small exhale escapes her of a breath she hadn't realized she had trapped in her chest, slow yet cautious in how she lets herself steadily lower back onto the bed spread, laying on her back once more ans slowly daring to tilt her head to the side, exposing the dark flame tattoo crawling up her neck and scar resting beneath it.

@mccnrxse || Violence

[loyalborn]

♡ [ from astarion ]

Send ♡ to see what my muse thinks of yours LOW | ●●●●● | HIGH

●●●●● | ATTRACTION

●●●○○ | AFFECTION

●●●●● | INTEREST

○○○○○ | LOYALTY

○○○○○ | TRUST

[fereldensheroesa]

@mccnrxse asked:

“you’re looking at me funny.” ( from astarion, to: up to you )

Her nose wrinkled as he spoke. Her thoughts had been running. Those dark thoughts. Fangs latching onto a jugular, sinking deep. The rending of flesh and vein. The beautiful red spray of a torn artery. The gargled gasps and choking. A hand rose to pinch the bridge of her nose then.

"Sorry. My thoughts were miles away. I'm forming a habit of that--- assuming it's a new habit."

[loyalborn]

cont. // @mccnrxse

In truth, it was a bit overwhelming to be surrounded by so many people. Just a few centuries prior, Haarlep would have been in their element, wearing the attention they received like it was made for them. But now, after so long living in the House of Hope, the crowd made their heart race a bit. Their body began to release pheromones, hoping to convince any potential danger to treat them as a mate rather than a meal. And clearly that gained them even more attention.

Haarlep allowed Astarion to lead them onto the dance floor, their mind still buzzing. "Of course," they murmured, taking his hand. They fell into the steps naturally, their body remembering the moves from so long ago. The concept of muscle memory was an interesting one, especially to a being such as them. Even now, they weren't in their true form, instead hiding wings and their second set of horns to let the public think they were just a mere tiefling.

"It's been so long since I've gotten to dance with someone."

[fereldensheroesa]

@mccnrxse asked:

if you keep doing that, i can't promise i'll behave. ( Nimue & Astarion )

Had she been flirting? Did... did she know what flirting was anymore? Had she ever known? She'd been fussing, she supposed. Making sure his hair was as he liked it after a fight, adjusting his collar.

His words, though, came as she had risen a hand--- far above her own head--- to softly run her thumb over the corner of his lips, wiping away some blood the lingered there. It was a tender motion, she supposed.

"---I wouldn't think you would want to... misbehave with me."

[fereldensheroesa]

@mccnrxse asked:

“ you're really cute, you know. “ ( gale + astarion if that's ok)

The comment threw him. It seemed to come out of no where and from such an unexpected source--- well, unexpected if Astarion wasn't the flirty sort. Which he was. It took the wizard a moment to figure out how to react. Did he do so with suspicion? Of course, that could go poorly. Perhaps a safer version of that.

"You know, normally that's said when someone is trying to get me to stop talking or they want something..."

[alittlebitofmuse]

HOW DOES YOUR STORY END?

Astarion: By your command.

how easily betrayal comes to you, the natural action of your knife to gore those who would trust you in their sleep - you have been burned too many times, and now, your turn has come due. everything is as according to your design: an age of work and planning come to fruition, and you upon the throne. you are the villain of this tale. does that surprise you, love? all this carnage in your name, and still you thought yourself righteous? this is everything you've ever wanted... so why does it feel so hollow?

Halsin: Happily ever after.

congratulations, my dear. you are the hero you have always wanted to be. you've slain the dragon, helped the helpless, banished your story's evils to the most far-flung reaches of the universe. what exhausting work. now comes the rest you have so earned, surrounded by the family you have built over the course of your quest. whether you seek romance, brotherhood or something else altogether, the bones of it are here with you, waiting to flourish in epilogue. your tale is a well-loved epic, returned to again and again when the trials of this life become too much to bear. your courage and good fortune are a balm to the weary. you are the best of us.

I was tagged by: @shdwtouch (Thank you! <3 ) I am tagging: @lunespariah @astralfox0893 @windwithinmyveins @wildskissed @mccnrxse (ignore if any of you have already done it!!)

[loyalborn]

yeah estelle will tell astarion he's beautiful, but she doesn't start with that. first, she tells him he's intelligent, then she tells him that he's bold, that he's brave, talented, passionate, and honest.

and then she'll tell him he's beautiful.

@fiendrites @powerfought @mccnrxse @architaciturn

[loyalborn]

@mccnrxse sent: pluck, gale plucks something out of estelle's hair.

"Oh! Thank you." A sweet smile and pink cheeks. A stray leaf had found itself wound in her braid, only to be saved by a kind faced human. Estelle instantly recognized him as one of Astarion's companions, but his name escaped her memory. A magic user, certainly, complete with robes and a staff.

"I'm sorry, sir, please remind me of your name."