#astarion gave his approval of course

[unluckiestmember]

Baldur's Gate 3 X Innocent! Reader

Characters: Astarion Ancunin, Shadowheart, Gale Dekarios of Waterdeep, Lae'zel, Wyll Ravengard, Karlach and Halsin

Tags: friends to lovers, acquittances to lovers, in denial, overprotective, fluff, indirect kisses, Gale being Gale, fake love (until it's not), established relationship and innocence.

Warning: SFW. Light suggestive themes.

A/N: Yes, your eyes do not deceive you. No, I'm still in a chokehold-

Astarion Ancunin

“Well aren’t you just the cutest thing ever? I could just eat you right up, darling~.”

When he first met you, Astarion knew you were an easy target. A nice meal he could exploit, especially if you’re a virgin, and a great pawn for the road ahead. He would deliver sweet nothings to you in hopes of sleeping in your bed and drinking from the pure blood that coursed through your veins. But as time continued, as you showed how sweet you were, the pale elf found himself genuinely falling for you.

He wanted to protect you from the world around both of you and bite anyone who tried to hurt you. He’d even hesitate on feeding from you out of fear he’d hurt you or expose himself to your pained gasps. You were his precious jewel he couldn’t afford to be taken from him or tainted in any way. With everyone else, he’s still a flirtatious and snarky vampire spawn. But around you, he will always be a sweet man who wants to make sure you’re okay. His princess/prince… That being said, don’t expect him to stop flirting with you. He adores when you get flustered.

Shadowheart

“Stand behind me! I don’t want you to get hurt! Just do as I say, okay?!”

At first Shadowheart thought you weren’t real. That there was no way in the nine hells that there was someone as pure as you. She genuinely thought your personality was a charade. So she watched you carefully, waiting for you to show your true colors in the form of berating someone or betraying one of the campers. But you never did. You always stayed true to yourself.

When she realized that you were probably the most modest person in your motley crew, the Shar Worshipper became attracted to you. She spent more time with you and suddenly felt like she needed to take care of you along your adventure together. Similar to Astarion, Shadowheart tries to be ever so gentle with you, never using pain in bed and out of bed unless you approve of her actions when she asks for permission. It’s evident to everyone she cares deeply for you and wouldn’t mind spending her life with you.

Gale Dekarios

“It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen the embodiment of happiness. Who knew I would find that in you?”

You had Gale’s heart as soon as you said hi to him. It didn’t take long for this man to turn into putty around you nor to become friends with you. And he fell in love when you always gave him magical objects without hesitation. Asking him if he’s alright and stroking his head after he eats his weave? He was swooned. The closer you two became, the more the wizard would share his life with you like an open book and offer any kind of lesson in magic to you.

It didn’t take long for him to admit he had romantic feelings for you, leading to you to become a couple. At camp, he is a gentleman, always asking if you need anything in between kisses to your cheek and becoming bashful with you when you bless his ears with your giggles. Outside of camp, he’s focused on you, making sure no one lays a finger or spell on that cute head of yours. You bring the best out of Gale and make him the happiest man in all of the realms.

Lae’zel

“G’lyck. If you’re hurt, then go to the ghustil… Hurry up or I’ll drag you to her myself.”

You were a liability to Lae’zel. Always getting hurt? Never killing your enemies? Checking up on everyone over yourself? She wanted nothing more than to throw you to the wolves so you wouldn’t ruin the group’s odds of survival. She hated you with a flaming passion. She hated how you always asked if she was okay. How you always treated her wounds after a battle and dare to kiss her injuries better. How you cowered behind her during combat.. And especially how you made her heart flutter when you slept across from her by the campfire, watching your cute face in a state of peace…

If it was up to her, she’d kick you out of the camp for what you’ve done to her. She swears it. But for now? She guesses she’ll keep you around for a little longer. Besides, she knows without her you’d die out there. You need her and she needs you.

Wyll Ravengard

“Don’t fret now, I won’t let them lay a finger on you, not when the Blade of Frontiers is right by your side.”

Wyll always wanted to have a romance like fairy tales. Save a fair princess or prince from their troubles like a knight in shining armor while slaying dragons. To meet someone who was the sweetest thing alive and experience real happiness with them by his side. So when he met you, you can bet he felt like he won the jackpot! He found your bashful nature and careless personality to be a breath of fresh air, especially when he was punished by Mizora.

At first you were a great friend, but when you took care of him, polished his horns and always checked if he was alright after fights, true love sprung between you two. It didn’t take long for him to confess his feelings to you and take your hand as your boyfriend. From that day forward, he’s been your savior on and off the battlefield when he wasn’t your sweet lover that showered you in compliments and kisses. You are positive that with Wyll you are bound to have a happily ever after.

Karlach

“Aww, you’re so adorable I just wanna squish your cheeks and hug you forever!... I can?! Well, come here, you!”

It was love at first sight between you and Karlach. After you splashed her with water and made sure she was okay, the barbarian’s heart was in your hands. She was so used to meeting backstabbers, manipulators and liars that she wasn’t sure there were any good people left. But you proved her wrong and she was so happy you did. Because of you, she made it her sole mission to get infernal iron so she could touch you.

When she couldn’t, she would share indirect kisses with you using rocks and even gift you her teddy bear Clive when you couldn’t hold her. And when she finally was able to touch you, she held you as if her life depended on it. There isn’t a moment where you two are not touching in and out of camp. You make her feel alive again in more ways than one and to her you are her soulmate. She loves you so much and will do anything to make sure you know that.

Halsin

“If you were a part of nature’s divine design, then you are a pure ray of sunshine given by the Oak Father.”

Halsin immediately gave you his trust and respect when you saved him without a reason to. It didn’t help that he also found you to be adorable with how nervous you got around him and how you stuttered a bit. With how you were, the druid quickly grew an interest in you, wanting to be beside you and feel your skin against his. He loved how you were so considerate when he wild shaped, petting his head and playing with him effortlessly.

In the wilderness, you were something like his mate, always protected by foes and checked for injuries. If there were any, he would bandage them as quickly as he could and carry you the rest of the way back to camp. When everything was settled, he’d immediately cuddle you as himself or as a bear. You were perfect in every way to him and for that, he would be your sole protector no matter what.

If you got any requests for Baldur's Gate 3, send them my way!

Likes and retweets are always appreciated! I love you all, stay hydrated and have a good day! <3

[fangswbenefits]

The Arrangement (1)

Summary: You managed to convince Astarion not to go through with the rite of profane ascension. He remains a vampire spawn, and you now offer your blood from time to time to help with his sanguine hunger until a solution is found. Even though you had both decided to stay as friends back in Moonrise Towers, lines begin to blur once more as other cravings come to the surface… and things with Astarion are seldom uncomplicated.

Pairing: Astarion x female!Tav

Word count: 6k

Warnings: 18+. Endgame spoilers. Blood drinking. Mutual pining. Biting. S*xual tension. Mentions of past trauma.

Series masterlist . AO3

"He's upstairs."

You nodded curtly, but before you could turn in your heels and head to the wooden staircase, you felt a hand grip at your arm.

"He hasn't been paying his due," Bork, the Blushing Mermaid tavern's publican, said with a rise of his brows.

"Noble room again?"

"Yes."

As expected. Astarion would sooner be caught dead again than having to stay at a merchant or peasant room.

He adored all things lavish and that extended to his accommodations, naturally.

"I'll cover for it," you said, snatching your arm away. "How much?"

He bared his yellow teeth. "Thirty gold pieces."

You felt Shadowheart's burning gaze on you. She didn't approve of you cleaning after him. Especially since her protective instinct dragged her along with you every single time.

"Very well," you said through gritted teeth, rummaging through your pouch, and handing him the expected amount. 

"Good," the older man said with a twirl of his kitchen knife. "If your pale friend does it again, he's done for."

Threats like this would usually warrant you to bare your dagger or cast a less friendly spell, but you couldn't afford to cause a scene.

Not in front of so many onlookers. 

You felt Shadowheart briefly tense up by your side. "Do hurry up. I shall wait for you."

Nodding, you gave her an assuring nod before heading up the staircase. 

The first floor was reserved for the highest paying customers, and it was heavily decorated and with candles spreading along the narrow corridor.

You paced quickly along the wooden floor, already knowing where to find him.

Room 7.

At this point, you were already over common pleasantries, so you skipped knocking at the door and just barged inside.

You heard a sleepy groan from the crimson bed placed at the centre of the luxurious room.

Astarion wasn't alone.

He was laying on top of the silk sheets, flipping through a book, seemingly undisturbed by your sudden appearance. Curiously enough, he was fully clothed, wearing a frill shirt and his regular trousers. 

However, the woman next to him was very much fully naked, with only a blanket draping over her bare torso.

The sight made your stomach twist and turn.

"Hello, darling," he said casually as if you had just walked in on him picking flowers. 

She peeked over her shoulder with a horrified look spreading across her pleasant face.

Of course she was extremely attractive.

She let out a shriek. "Do you mind?"

"No," you said dryly.

She immediately rolled out of bed, shooting a murderous glance your way, while scrambling to collect her belongings from the carpeted floor.

The door snapped shut behind her, and you were already pacing toward his bedside table once you spotted his coinpurse.

"Happy, are you? You scared her off, poor thing," he shook his head, feigning disapproval.

"You owe me."

You reached out to grab the thick pouch, but caught sight of the glint of a blade and the cool touch of metal being pressed gently against the back of your hand. 

Typical.

"Ah-ah-ah..." he tutted with a click of his tongue. "Where are your manners?"

He seemed very serious all of a sudden, but you knew better. "I'll hex you."

"Faster than me piercing through your skin?" he asked, tapping the flat side of the blade playfully on your skin.

You really did consider hexing him for a split second just out of spite. "You overestimate your abilities."

"And you could have cursed me already, but are too lost in my dashing good looks."

Your jaw dropped in utter disbelief.

"That lovely mouth of yours could never compete with my agile fingers."

The insinuation wasn't even subtle, and it was enough to make your blood boil.

You scowled deeply at him, shoving his dagger out of the way. "Thirty gold pieces."

He slipped the blade under his pillow again with a devious grin.

"Bork was rather eager to have at you, so I just paid him. Maybe next time I won't intervene."

"And what would he do? Kill me again?"

Point taken.

A dangerous smile danced across his lips. "And here I thought you intended to start charging me for our arrangement."

You glared at him intensely, feeling momentarily outraged. "You're the one profiting off of it. Entirely."

"Hmm, debatable."

You narrowed your eyes. "If anything, you should be paying me, no?"

He snatched the coinpurse from your grasp, tugging it open before handing you a few gold pieces. 

"Here you go, darling. Sixty gold pieces," he said, voice dripping with amusement. "Buy yourself a new attire, while you're at it."

You glanced down the length of your body, arching a brow and straightening your shirt and trousers. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

Astarion scoffed. "I don't even know where to begin, but do not fret. You could be wearing nothing but a rotting sack of potatoes, and I would still not be deterred from your neck."

You pressed your lips tightly together, and glanced at the gold pieces in your hand. "Your sweet-talking skills have been slightly below par as of late."

He chuckled, crossing his hands behind his head and against the meticulously wooden-carved headboard. "Yet here you are."

Not that you had much of a choice, really.

Halving the sum of money he had given you, you shoved the rest in your pocket while placing the other half on the table.

"Keep it."

"Don't be ridiculous," you groaned.

"Working on your flattery, I see?"

He was enjoying this far too much, and the more you talked back, the more you instigated him to continue.

"Why don't you just pay him when he asks for it?"

"Oh, darling…"

Here we go…

He was casually checking his hands, putting on his condescending demeanour. "Patience is a virtue he clearly lacks. If I'm to live eternally, I might as well teach these commoners some manners."

"Or you just adore getting on people's nerves," you said with a sly smile.

He grinned so wide, you caught a glimpse of his razor-sharp fangs peeking through. "You know me too well."

You used to think so.

Now, you weren't so sure.

Clearing your throat, you looked around the dimly lit room until your eyes settled on the large majestic bed. "She was really pretty."

"You sound surprised."

"Not at all. She does fit your type."

He laughed dramatically, further grinding your nerves. "I have a type?"

You gave him a look.

"You mean outrageously beautiful and undeniably entertaining?" he asked innocently. "Like you?"

Your heart jolted.

His method of seduction was deemed nigh pristine, and a few weeks ago, you would have maybe fallen hard for this level of charm.

But not anymore.

Well, for the most part…

"She was not outrageously beautiful."

He placed on hand at his chest, feigning hurt. "First you rob me, and now you question my taste in beauty. I'm not entirely sure my dead heart can take much more of this."

You huffed, crossing your arms before glancing out the window. The full moon lit up the street below, as the night began to draw out those who preferred to keep to the shadows.

And those who had no choice but to do so.

Like Astarion.

"I didn't do it."

His voice startled you and you stared at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"

He paused briefly. "I didn't do anything with her, if that's what you're thinking. There is an odd comfort in being surrounded by beauty, even if only to glare at, and nothing else."

Your heart clenched at how vulnerable he sounded all of a sudden. His pleasing face held an expression that you'd seen many times before…

Guilt.

The ripple effects of centuries of torture and abuse still slipped through the cracks of his usual pompous demeanour.

"Your personal matters are your own, Astarion. No need to justify yourself."

He stared at you in silence for a moment, and the urge to reach out to embrace him nearly took over.

Until his features began to twist into a light frown. "Don't look at me like that. I can't stand it."

"Like what?"

"That look. Pity. Spare me," he groaned with a roll of his eyes.

You weren't surprised in the slightest that he went into his defensive mode so rapidly.

He would fluctuate so often around you these days, that it gave you whiplash. Some days, he would let his guard down and allow you in, while others were plagued with him having a brick wall up around him if you happened to breathe in the wrong direction.

You had learned how to navigate through his tough exterior when the two of you traveled together, and as he opened more and more to you.

It all culminated when you offered your help against Cazador, and having him make the decision not to go through with the ritual that would doom so many souls – including his own — in the process.

He had thanked you for saving him from himself.

But nowadays, talking to him was like walking on eggshells while simultaneously dancing around his weathervane mood.

It was as if your relationship had somewhat soured over the past few weeks, and all the remnants of a solid friendship were now beginning to crack.

"You know, you don't have to be here," you said softly, trying to disperse the tension. "You are more than welcome to stay with us."

Astarion snickered darkly. "And having to endure that dullard? Please. I'd rather stake myself, darling."

You rolled your eyes and heaved a sigh at the targeted provocation.

"Gale is not a dullard. He is quite inter-"

But he began to part his mouth into a forced yawn. "Boring already! See, this is what happens when you choose to surround yourself with such unstimulating company – it spreads, and you used to be so much fun," he finished with a dramatic pout.

Your heart skipped a beat, and you sent him a death glare. "He's not the only one there."

There was a hint of amusement gleaming in his eyes. "Oh, yes! How could I forget Shadowheart and her magnificent ability to bore me." He swung his feet off the bed, standing gracefully. "Or perhaps you mean Lae'zel? She's clearly in debt to whichever god bestows a sense of humour."

An added layer of defense: sarcasm.

No one wielded it quite like Astarion, which also proved to be a major inconvenience when trying to win an argument. 

I'm also there, you wanted to say, but chose to remain silent.

Deep down, you detested how you still longed for his company. Even after so many weeks had gone by. Even when he seemed so averse to it outside of this… arrangement.

Your relationship had been reduced to nothing more than a transaction.

Once again.

Your blood for his hunger to be quenched even if only momentarily.

"Or are you referring to yourself?" he mused, pacing towards you while adjusting his shirt.

It was extremely infuriating that he could see through you so easily.

"Let's get this over with, then," you said, words stinging in your throat.

He offered a faint smile, as he came to stand before you. "I must say, our weekly encounters are nothing short of exciting," he brought his fingers to your jaw, tilting your head gently as his eyes roamed across your neck. "And I am positively famished."

You felt a gentle tug at the collar or your shirt, and glanced down to see him undoing the buttons with just one hand. 

All those years of honing his dexterity were bound to come in handy at the most convenient of times,  and Astarion would never shy away from displaying his expertise.

Your senses were suddenly hit with the faint scent of bergamot, rosemary, and aged brandy.

His scent.

The same that once brought you comfort through the toughest of times.

But now…

"Which side will it be this time?"

You swallowed hard, shuddering. "You decide."

He caressed your neck tenderly, tipping your head to the opposite side, half-hooded eyes roaming across your exposed skin.

"Ever so generous."

You huffed in annoyance. "Astarion."

He didn't need to be warned twice, and you soon felt his soft lips brush across your skin, as he searched for your steady pulse. The contact made you jolt slightly and he took your hands in his, placing them at his waist.

"Hold on, darling," he whispered, as his breath fanned your flushed skin, before darting out his agile tongue and enclosing his lips around the selected area.

You had let him feed on you many times before, but the flutter was ever present. It wasn't out of fear or concern that he might take it too far. He never did. But the knowledge that you were, once again, involved in something so intimate truly gnawed at your nerves.

As soon as you felt the initial sting, you balled your fists, gripping the fabric of his shirt tight, as you hissed in pain. 

He held your jaw in between his fingers whilst his other hand was firmly pressed to the back of your head, making sure you were anchored in place.

Astarion moaned first – a muffled and deep sound that reverberated across his lips with each mouthful of blood he downed.

Your eyes dropped close all of a sudden and he  pressed his body against yours, acting purely on the instinct driven by his bloodlust. 

And just like all those times before, you began to feel it.

With each passing second, the all too familiar and ever-growing pressure in your lower abdomen became harder and harder to ignore.

He had once revealed how your blood worked like an aphrodisiac whenever he drank from you; how he couldn't keep his body from reacting to it, and, ultimately, to you. After all, you had been the first thinking creature he had ever fed on. 

As such, you had grown accustomed to his erection being pressed firmly against you – a constant reminder of how easy it was for him to make you yearn for more.

Whatever pain you had left from the initial bite, had morphed into a very subtle wave of pleasure that spread from between your legs.

You cursed inwardly, tugging harder at his shirt.

You didn't wish for your body to be so… primal. 

Even with blood being drained from you, and the act itself being considered so profane, it was still a much welcome moment of intimacy that you had come to embrace. 

A soft roll of his hips lulled you into him like a moth to a flame. Your body struggled with fading from the blood loss as well with the increasing throb between your thighs.

At this point, you couldn't help but moan softly as he eased his grip on you until he had fully withdrawn his teeth from you. 

Your eyes fluttered open and you had to blink twice to disperse the haziness blurring your vision.

Crimson red tainted his lips, and droplets of the warm liquid threatened to spill over. The sight of him revelling in your blood used to make your stomach turn, but now it had morphed into a habit.

But what truly caught your attention was how he looked faintly… displeased?

He lowered his head, crimson eyes locking in with yours. 

"That was quick," you whispered, struggling to ease your throbbing clit, as his erection was still very much pressed against you.

But now he was frowning. 

Suddenly, you felt experienced fingertips trailed across your lower abdomen, casually teasing the hem of your waistband.

You sucked in a breath, chills sprawling all over your body, as he began to trace down your thigh, just where your dagger was resting.

"What are you–"

He pressed a long finger to his blood-stained lips and you swallowed, his eyes darkening. "We have company."

Before you could process his words, you felt your dagger being yanked swiftly from its sheath. With a languid shift of his feet, you watched as he threw the sharp blade across the room.

Just as it cut through the air, the large wooden door began to swing open and Shadowheart came into view.

The dagger landed dangerously close to her head, the tip carving into the wood and wobbling faintly.

She frowned slightly. "You missed."

He darted out his tongue to collect droplets of blood. "Did I?"

She looked positively unimpressed by such a display of skill, even one that could have easily maimed her.

But he had deliberately missed.

Of course he had.

You caught a glimpse of Astarion's reddened ears – the ultimate proof that he had recently fed, and one that, somehow, sent a shiver down your spine.

The bloodless effect was also beginning to take a hold of your body, as dizziness spread more and more.

Snapping out of your transfixed gaze, you hurriedly brought the handkerchief in your pocket to apply some pressure to your bleeding wound.

"Stealth was never your forte, darling," Astarion mused, visibly annoyed. "You're about as subtle as a pack of gnolls."

A teasing smile parted her lips. "You have such a way with words."

He grinned deviously. "It's called being eloquent, dear Shadowheart. Not that you'd know anything about that."

"I was taught to converse with others without constantly resorting to sarcasm," she mused, hurling your dagger back at him. "Not that you'd know anything about that."

As expected, he caught it in between his fingers with little to no effort, twirling it easily with the expertise that only centuries of practice could provide.

He clicked his tongue. "No wonder you're so tedious. But… eavesdropping? My, my… how unbecoming of you, darling."

A flash of surprise crossed her face. "I - I was doing no such thing! I merely decided to make sure everything was all right." Her face softened as she turned to you, her usual caring nature surfacing. "Do you need any healing?"

You smiled warmly at her, patting the pouch at your hip. "No need, thank you. Brought the scroll of Lesser Restoration you gave me."

Astarion scoffed.

Shadowheart ignored him. "I ought to go. Gale needs my assistance with some letters he's received from Waterdeep," she said, straightening up to her default stoic pose. "I trust you're quite done here."

You nodded, clearing your throat.

"What, you're not joining us for a nibble?" Astarion pouted dramatically.

"Over my dead body."

He looked as amused as ever. "That can certainly  be arranged. Though I prefer fresh blood… right from the source."

Her features hardened once more and you decided to intervene. "Will you stop it? You're like a cat with its claws out."

Astarion snapped his head at you. "Excuse me? Claws?"

"Would it kill you - well, again - not to be so damn abrasive all the time?" 

He groaned sheepishly. "She interrupted my feeding. It can be quite hard to resist the urge to behead her."

Shadowheart's gaze dropped to his lower half with the slightest uptick of one corner of her mouth. "By the looks of it, Astarion, you have other hardships to concern yourself with."

A rush of heat spread across your face as you followed her line of sight and were met by the very prominent outline of his erection strained against his trousers.

He turned around, mumbling curses under his breath to adjust himself, and Shadowheart looked at you with a triumphant smile.

It wasn't an easy feat to silence Astarion, yet she had achieved it so gracefully.

"I'll see you later, I suppose," she mused and you nodded. "It was rather entertaining seeing you again, Astarion."

He threw her an infuriating glance over his shoulder.

By the time she had closed the door behind her, you were already taking the scroll into your hands and whispering the incantation, as the paper scroll began to disintegrate itself.

A wave of warmth spread through your hands, before engulfing your body in it. Strength and heightened senses gradually returned to you as the lasting effects of him feeding on you dispersed. 

From the corner of your eye, you spotted him glaring at you with a visible sulk. 

"I'll come back next week."

"Leaving already?" He asked, fake heartbreak twisting his features and voice. "Was wondering if you could, perhaps, give me a hand."

He handed you your dagger, which you promptly slid back inside its sheath.

Your eyes then widened at his not so subtle suggestion.

Uncertainty boiled deep within you, and you had to muster your will to keep yourself from immediately leaving.

Astarion's healing path had been one he had decided to tread alone. The relationship he had with sex had been the reason you two had decided to be as friends and nothing more. You had fallen hard for him – or his deceit – but you figured what he truly needed was a friend and not a lover.

And so you left your infatuation for him behind.

It was better off this way.

But now… watching him fall back to his usual charming advances made you somewhat wary. Was he back to forcing himself to seek intimacy with his body, because he still couldn't do it effectively in any other way? Was he simply feeling more at ease?

You met his sultry gaze and cleared your throat. "Well, I'm sure you can ask that outrageously beautiful woman to help you out, if that is what you truly seek."

That seemed to have caught him by surprise, and he cocked his head. "What?"

"She seemed positively distraught for having to leave your company so early," you said, dragging the handkerchief down your neck to wipe off the trail of blood.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Do I detect a hint of jealousy, darling?"

"Delusion does not suit you, darling."

He took a few steps towards you until you could see the crimson of his eyes flicker as they studied your face.

Your stomach turned.

The proximity made you feel vulnerable and you immediately felt naked under his burning gaze. 

Astarion had over two centuries of practice when it came to reading others. It wasn't an easy feat to deceive him, and you were no exception.

"We traveled together for so long and I can safely say I never took you for a liar – perhaps too soft-hearted for my liking, but not a liar."

"I did not lie," you shot back, lifting your chin in defiance. "I can offer you my friendship and even my blood, but I'm not so sure about anything else."

He heaved a deep sigh.

"I just fed on you and the bloodlust can be quite… overwhelming," he confessed. "I usually take care of it myself, but you did taste absolutely exquisite tonight, what can I say?"

That caught you off guard.

"What do you mean? Take care of…" your voice trailed off as realization hit you.

Oh.

Oh.

Astarion clicked his tongue. "Don't act so surprised. You can feel it whenever I'm feeding, can't you?" He took another step back and only came to a halt once your back was pressed against the carved-wood wall. "There is only so much I can withstand with your delicious blood coursing through my body, darling."

You swallowed hard. 

He was being particularly firm on his advances tonight. You were used to his occasional flirtatious remarks whenever he fed on you ever since the arrangement took place. However, this was bringing things to a whole new level.

One that you hadn't expected you'd reach ever again with him.

Somehow, you managed to find your voice. "Maybe you should stop feeding on me, then?"

A weightless taunt, obviously.

Crimson eyes darted all over your face as if studying you. He remained silent for what seemed like an eternity, before the corner of his mouth curled into an intriguing smile.

He had seen immediately right through it.

"If that is what you wish, then so be it," he said in a rather dismissive tone, but still towering over you.

You arched a brow. "That's it?"

"Darling, as immortal as I am, I do not beg," he continued, now tracing around the fresh bite marks on your skin with uncharacteristic tenderness. "I will surely find other exquisite necks to sink my teeth into."

His words carried a hint of a threat, which unsettled you. 

"That was not the arrangement, Astarion," you said with a scowl. "It's either wild animals or my blood."

His fingertips paused at your pulse point, and you were certain he could feel the throbbing increasing rapidly. "How possessive of you, my dear," he mused playfully. "Although, I am quite sure you are aware that many do carry fantasies with vampires."

You pressed your lips together in a silent reply.

A man as attractive as Astarion was bound to allure all sorts of attention. When passing through Moonrise Towers, the drow Araj had tried to have him bite her in exchange for a rather powerful potion, but you had assured him that you did not demand anything against his will.

The memory still left a sour taste in your mouth.

But he did have a point.

Vampires could be regarded as a taste of the forbidden, and he could certainly deliver it.

"That was not the arrangement," you repeated through gritted teeth, deciding to ignore his previous remark.

His eyes narrowed dangerously in an instant.

"'The arrangement'," he mocked, inching near and pinning you frozen against the wall with the weight of his burning stare. "Does dear Wyll know that I haven't been exclusively feeding on wild animals? Because that was the arrangement, darling," his face drew closer and his cool breath fanned your skin.

Upon becoming Duke of Baldur's Gate, Wyll had agreed to allow Astarion to reside within its walls, but not without assuring he posed no danger to others.

But then you decided to volunteer in aiding him until a solution to his vampiric condition could be found. Hopefully, it wouldn't take too long to find something useful. 

Your research had led to a couple of enchanted items, but those were rare to come by. A wish spell seemed to be the easiest way, but even as a sorcerer and with Gale's help, it would be extremely challenging.

You swallowed the lump in your throat. "He does. He knows blood from thinking creatures sates you more effectively, so he allows it for the time being."

He scoffed, dropping his hand from your neck. "How very thoughtful of him, indeed."

"This is what friends do."

He sneered at you. "Friends do not hand out ultimatums. Care to revive my memory?" His lips almost brushed against yours and you didn't dare take a breath. "I am to wag my tail like an obedient pup as I wait for a solution to this minor inconvenience, all the while enclosed in a golden cage."

Impatience gripped your nerves ferociously. "These things take time, Astarion."

"Oh, my darling… I have all the time in the world, but you only have a limited supply of blood," he whispered softly and you could almost taste his taunting words.

He drew back slightly, his glare so intense you felt yours waver and drop, catching a glimpse of his sharp canines. "We are actively looking for a solution. Gale is also making some progress-"

He pressed a finger to your lips, effectively silencing you.

"Do not make the mistake of thinking I am faulting you," he said, his face suddenly softening, as he caressed your lower lip. "If anything, you are the only reason I was ever able to kill Cazador."

He was being sincere, and that was what made your heart drop to your stomach. 

"You have my eternal gratitude."

You shuddered under his touch, feeling your breath quicke, as his other hand trailed down your neck until it was resting just above your left breasts and beating heart.

He was too good at this…

Unfairly so.

"Wyll ought to allocate more of his resources into aiding me, don't you think? After all, you are the one at risk here," he continued. "I know he cares not for me, but I could have ascended and bent Baldur's Gate to my will… if not for your intervention."

"I'm not at risk," you said with a roll of your eyes. "And if you drink more than what you need, then you know the consequences."

His eyes dropped to your cleavage as he began to caress the flushed skin. With each deep breath you took, you pushed more of your breasts into him, further igniting the heat between your legs.

"Promises, promises… unfortunately for you, darling, your words don't match your body."

Fuck you. "You're impossible."

He slowly dipped his head until his lips grazed yours. "You would stake me?"

Never. 

"I would."

He chuckled. "You would stake me as I sink my teeth into your darling neck and feast on your divine blood?" 

No. "Yes."

But his smile only widened as amusement settled on his face. "I can't think of a better way to part this world for good."

Your mouth parted slightly in surprise, and he rolled his hips into you, earning a soft gasp.

You half-expected him to finally take your lips, but he tilted his head instead to press a lingering kiss to the corner of your mouth. 

And your body nearly imploded as old sensations resurfaced.

Fuck.

"You're so sweet…" he whispered with a sigh, as he began to graze along your jaw, taking your hands in his and planting them on his waist. "So warm… the gods above could never do you justice." He continued in between light kisses with his hips matching the pace.

As your eyes fluttered shut, you lost track of how eagerly your hands tugged at the hem of his shirt, fingers brushing impatiently against the waistband of his trousers.

Astarion groaned softly, helping you with the inconvenient lacing at the front. "And here I thought I was the starving one."

He always talked way too much and had a natural talent for doing so at the least opportune time. 

"Can you shut up for once?"

"Gladly," he said as he quickly took your lips in his, muffling your groan of protest.

Reason told you to halt everything once. That you were taking things too fast, and that there was no need to indulge in such depravities.

But you had missed this.

You missed having him so close that he completely overtook your senses. 

The kiss turned rougher and his tongue soon found yours. Instinct guided you as you succumbed to the vicious grip of desire, and you pressed yourself further into him.

It was almost embarrassing how wet you already were and how intensely your swollen clit was pulsing. Your body was already readying itself for him to be buried inside you, and you shuddered at the prospect of it.

Your tongue darted into his mouth and your eagerness had it glide across one of his sharp fangs, and you felt a sting of pain as you accidentally drew blood.

"Fuck," you grumbled, breaking the kiss at once.

The familiar taste of metal began to pool in your mouth, and you felt gentle fingers grip your jaw tight, as he titled your head back.

"I would apologise, but it was your own doing," he said with a smile, hunger in his eyes. "So let's not allow it to go to waste, hm?"

And then he pressed his lips against yours, immediately parting them with his experienced tongue, in search of the warm liquid he so badly craved.

The cut wasn't deep or wide enough to cause much to spill, but it was certainly enough for him to let out a beautiful moan of delight, as he lapped at your blood.

Your hands gripped the front of his trousers, the lacing now undone and offering you the opportunity to feel him, and he was kissing you so ardently, that your mind was completely clouded by all of him.

Testing the waters, you caressed his cock through the fabric.

He immediately parted from you to let out a delicious hiss, as he rolled his hips into the palm of your hand.

Astarion was incredibly hard, but just as you were about to slide it inside to grip him, he caught your wrist and held it firmly in place.

And everything halted all at once.

Your eyes found his, and he seemed… distant.

Concern washed over you. "Astarion?"

He was frozen, eyes fixed on the floor.

As he eased his grip on you, it became apparent that he wasn't listening to you.

Fuck.

You brought one hand to grip his shoulder. "Astarion…"

He shook his head lightly. "Give me a moment, darling."

The way the last word drawled out of his lips, made your heart clench violently. It was so instinctive for him, that you doubted he even realised he had uttered it.

You stood still, unsure of what to do to help.

The two of you remained silent for a few moments. You kept your hold on his shoulder, gently caressing it in an attempt to bring him some comfort.

Then you felt rage swirl in you.

Cazador had warped him in such a way and for so long, that the ramifications of his abuse on Astarion seeped so deep and gripped him so tight, causing you to feel nothing but anger.

You took a deep breath, and carefully placed your hands on either side of his face, slowly guiding him to meet your eyes.

He looked broken.

"I apologise."

You caressed his cool skin with your thumbs, shaking your head. "There is nothing to apologise for. Ever. Do you hear me?"

He tilted his head until his forehead touched yours. "I really wanted this."

Even though the two of you had grown apart over the past few weeks as he had distanced himself, you couldn't think of anyone else who had such a hold on you.

With one hand drifting along his soft curls, you pulled him further into a hug, which he promptly embraced, lacing his hands behind your back.

This was your Astarion.

The one who made it so easy to love and care for him.

"Sometimes what we want is not what we need."

His cheek was pressed to the side of your head and you heard a faint chuckle. "So poetic. I reckon Volo has competition."

"Your mind goes to Volo when holding me? Is there something you wish to tell me, Astarion?" you teased lightly.

He patted your back twice before letting go.

"Guilty as charged," he mused, slipping back into his usual antics.

He crossed the room, tying the laces of his trousers before plopping himself on the bed with a stretch of his arms.

"I'm sure you're exhausted. Maybe you should go back to that dullard friend of yours," he said with a sly grin.

His words hit you hard and your face dropped. "I can stay a little longer…"

He picked up the book next to him, examining the cover. "Whatever for? I'm perfectly fine, darling."

Now, this was not your Astarion.

Cold. Distant. Impenetrable.

The one who pushed you away whenever you attempted to bridge the gap that had come in between you two. 

He focused his attention on the book in his hands and you swallowed the lump in your throat.

"Very well."

You composed yourself, and headed to the door, not even bothering to exchange another look.

"Thank you for the meal, and for… well, you know."

You nodded, feeling the overwhelming urge to just leave. "See you next week, then."

He didn't reply.

You rushed out of the room, feeling the familiar prickle of tears in your eyes, and you tried to convince yourself it was better off this way.

That he needed time and space.

That he didn't need you.

By the time you crossed the crowded lounge of the tavern, you crossed paths with that woman again.

She locked eyes with you, a faint smile curving her lips, as she rose to her feet from her chair, probably heading back to him.

She truly was a sight to behold, no doubt.

But what tore your heart was realising that, even after everything you'd been through with Astarion, he still favoured her company over yours. 

Next chapter

Masterlist . Series masterlist. AO3

[e-m-ma-lmfao]

Hi hii, I've seen your requests are open and I was wondering if I could request somewhat one-sided Astarion x reader/Tav/he catches feelings first kinda situation??? Pretty please, love your writing 🙏

Too Generous Too Kind

pairing : astarion x (gn) reader

summary : astarion has travelled by your side for weeks and it makes his stomach churn when he grows to trust you, the trust turns into something more and he feels even worse.

warnings : astarion's scars, reader is injured.

For weeks Astarion had been travelling by your side. And for weeks he was under the impression he was only using you to get to Baldur's Gate safely. You were a powerful ally, an asset to his plan of revenge. 

He would stand by your side, of course, and watch your back as you had always watched his. But he couldn’t hold back how aggravating you were, you didn’t care whether he approved of your decisions or not. You made your own, walked your own street, and he was forced to follow it if he wanted to keep you around. 

And for weeks he had watched you talk your way out of situations, or convince a trader to give you free supplies. A master with your words. He watched as you lied and manipulated, and it made his faith in you soar. 

But then you would turn around and help a helpless child or a person that meant nothing to you, and his respect for you waivered. Why did they deserve any of your help? It’s not like they helped you in any way. And they definitely wouldn’t help you the same way you chose to help them if it were you stranded on the side of the road with no help. They would leave you, he was sure of it. He would, just like everyone had done to him, no one was deserving of your help if they had nothing to give you in return. 

So constantly you would find yourself in front of him, as he yelled at you and glared down at you with fire burning behind his eyes. He was tired of wasting time with people who didn’t matter. “Must you stop to help every worthless person we find on the side of the road?” His voice is venomous and unimpressed. It’s not the first time he has made a complaint, and him continuing to be unacknowledged was becoming more and more irritating each time he tried.

“You’d regret saying that if it was you on the side of the road, and we left you to grovel in your own misery.” Your arms are crossed, disciplinary stare on your face like he’s a child. He hates it. 

It’s not like anyone ever stopped to help him in the past.

Too generous. Too kind. 

Sure it gave you allies, and more often than not they would reward you for your good deed. But still, you could’ve killed them and taken it from their cold, dead body. Or he could’ve pickpocketed them for you, no time wasted. 

Astarion only feels his opinion change when your actions begin to affect him and not just the strangers you pass by through your travels. 

Suddenly he feels himself growing overwhelmingly close to you. Close enough that he feels he’s safe to tell you about Cazador and the threat he may play in your life in the future, and in a moment of privacy, just you and him, he offers to show you the scars on your back. You're not sure what to say at first, you just stare and it makes his skin crawl with insecurity. 

He shivers when your fingers meet his back to trace along the lines, “He did this?” He can only nod, embarrassed by this moment of transparency and weakness. God forbid he try to speak and all that comes out is a wobbly, pathetic cry where a snide comment laced with sarcasm should be.

You grab his shoulder to turn him around, holding both his hands in your own with a tightness that has his skin crawling in a different way. “I won’t let him hurt you again, we won’t, all of us, you'll never have to fight him alone. We’ll help you, no matter what,” Your thumbs swipe across the skin of his pale and shaky fingers and it sends heat up his cold arm,  “I’ll help you.” 

It’s so genuine and so sincere, it almost makes the air catch in his lungs. 

His eyes widen, and he has to force himself to hide how grateful he is to hear the words leave your mouth. He hadn’t realized that he’d forgotten what it was like to feel safe. To have someone who cares for him so much that they would put their life in danger to protect him. You were always kind to the helpless and needy, he just never thought he would allow himself to fit that description again, especially not in front of you.

You barely know him. You barely know his story, you’ve only seen his scars once and briefly heard of his former master's cruelty. But you’re ready to lay your life down for his cause. For him. To protect him. He feels lighter, holding the weight of Cazadors power on two pairs of shoulders instead of his alone..

Too generous. Too kind. 

For a while, he finds himself to be less annoyed by the way you stop to help. He doesn't mind as much when it inevitably slows the journey down. It still bothers him but finds it easier to manage when he sees the satisfactory smile you wear after. The sight almost makes a proud smile appear on his own face, smile lines subtly deepening before he wipes the evidence away.

You impress him, through it all. You hold your own while managing to deal with everyone else’s problems on your back, and while he hates the way you try to help everyone, he admires the way you handle it all.

Again his opinion changes when you reach Moonrise Towers. Whilst exploring, you meet a woman named  Araj, a drow, who offers a potion of immense power in exchange for Astarions teeth sinking into her skin. The mere idea has you scoffing, the potion would be nice but you would never jeopardize Astarions freedom in exchange for something that would only benefit yourself. 

But she pushes, even after Astarion declines. He is clearly uncomfortable and her continuous attempt to convince him has your blood boiling, face beginning to develop a red tinge from frustration.

“Excuse me if I’m mistaken but I’m sure I just heard him say no..”

“And I’m sure you can tell him to change his mind, he is yours, correct? I assume he follows your orders.” Your eyebrow raises at the suggestion that Astarion was anything but his own being. Your party is murmuring behind you, Karlach’s hand finding a place on your shoulder to tell you to calm down before things get out of hand. 

Even Astarion feels himself becoming concerned for how this would pan out. He’d never seen you so angry. A part of him was touched that you could be so angry on his behalf. But the majority of his mind is conflicted on if he should step in before you rip this woman's head clean off her shoulders. 

You feel your mouth open to shout at the drow in front of you but Astarions fingers slip within your own, squeezing in warning. Your mind clears a little, and you take a deep breath to calm your breathing. Karlach and Shadowheart stare at the scene in silence, but Karlach’s fingers give your shoulder another reassuring squeeze before slipping away. 

“I don’t own him, if that’s what you're trying to imply. He’s his own person. Who can make his own decisions, and he said no. That’s the last I’ll hear of the matter.”

A vampire spawn, a slave to Cazador for so many years, suddenly with the ability to act on his own and think for himself. His heart swells. He can’t think of any other word to describe how he feels but grateful. But maybe something else is lingering deeper underneath? Whatever the feeling is, it clouds his mind and puts a weight on his chest.

Later at camp he dwells on it, it’s hard not to see how your tired eyes consistently meet him. What could you be thinking? He can’t stop focusing on the way you speak to everyone but him, and jealousy is beginning to fester around his tent. What did he do to make you ignore him? When you finally reach him to say goodnight, his jealousy from earlier returns and he wants to send you away, but he can’t. 

“Thank you..” He’s cut you off before you can say goodnight and walk away from him, and you're stunned. His voice is soft, much softer then he wanted it to be, but he allows his tone to stay the same. Trust. Trusting you without realizing. 

“For what exactly?”

“For what you did at Moonrise. You could’ve forced me to go through with that..but you didn’t,” Astarion feels his eyes soften, stomach turning, “And I’m grateful.”

He gets anxious in front of your eyes when you don’t say anything. But his body becomes lighter when your arms wrap around him. He is certain it’s not a hug for your own comfort, but for his. And going against every instinct in his body that tells him to push you away, he hugs you back, wrapping his arms around you.. 

“I want you to know I will never put you in a position where you don’t have free will. You control yourself, Astarion, I will never jeopardize your freedom for my own benefit. You're a member of my party..you're my friend. I could never do that to you.” 

Friend? He couldn’t remember the last time he had someone to call a friend. If ever. But the words have him squeezing you closer to his body, face slipping into the crevice of your neck. 

“I was worried you might’ve been mad at me for refusing her, you were ignoring me. I wasn’t sure what I had done..” His words pull at your heart, you hadn’t meant to make him feel that way..

“Astarion..” 

“Hm?” He doesn’t move, he’s not sure if he wants to. Astarion is sure that he could hold you like this for as long as you would let him. 

“I didn’t mean to ignore you.. I was actually deciding how I should apologize..” 

“Apologize for what, dear?” He scoffs in your ear, he’s so close and the pet name flows with ease from his lips. If it were any other man you wouldn’t have noticed.

“For how I handled her today. I should’ve stayed calm. I just..I got so angry and she kept pushing and I was scared that she would do something to you..” 

The feeling is back in his chest, heavy and heating his face. His arms tighten and it silences your rambling, “Don’t apologize for being angry. You did nothing wrong… I actually quite appreciate your anger on my behalf. You didn’t have to but I appreciate that you denied her. I was certain you were going to kill her.” A chuckle stumbles from his lips, breath heavy on your ear. 

“I might’ve if you didn’t step in.” He pulls away from you, hands still resting on your arms, and disappointment fills your body. 

Astarion feels it again when your eyes look up into his with comfort painted across your face, a jab at his heart, and he is certain. He’s smitten and he can’t help the way his eyes fill with adoration. 

You wear a small smile on your face, filling him with comfort, but a sadness lingers in his mind. The fact is , you don’t feel the same and it causes his heart to become heavier. His hands fall from your arms, waving you off with a gentle goodnight before entering his tent. You stay standing in confusion, it sends your thoughts spiraling as you leave towards your own tent. 

Too generous. Too kind.

The next few days he is dazed, distracted and it shows. He misses his shots, when you speak to him his mind is elsewhere and the words you deliver slip through his ears. Everyone is clearly annoyed. 

But he cannot see it. He truly can’t see or hear anything, his thoughts are screaming at him about you. He cares for someone other than himself. He is depending on someone who is not himself.  He’s worried for your well-being, and he knows you’d be better without him by your side. He’s a burden with his mission to defeat Cazador, and he thinks about leaving.

And he thinks about you again. Every time he draws his bow, the thought of losing you fills his head and his fingers slip, arrow flying with unfocused aim. You trip and his previously unattentive eyes fly to your body, catching your arm in his tight grip to keep you from falling. The only words he speaks are soft, “I’ve got you.” He doesn't wait for your acknowledgement before he slips back into his clouded mind. 

He is unaware of his surroundings. He isn’t paying attention. Even when you’re fighting and he is tasked with shooting, he isn’t fully there. 

But when a cry leaves your mouth, hand clutching your side where you’ve been stabbed, he suddenly sees all. He’s breathing heavily as he rushes to your side to hold his hand on your wound, putting pressure on it. “I’ve got you..I've got you. please..you're gonna be okay..”

His eyes don’t leave yours as Karlach lifts you. He holds your fingers in his own as she carries you to camp for the night. He doesn't leave your side , even after everyone has gone to sleep, and your eyes have closed he remains. 

“Astarion?” 

Eyes wide, he looks up tiredly from where his eyes were staring at your wound. “Oh..gods. I’m so sorry..” His forehead falls onto your thigh in a huff.

“W..what?” You let your hand fall onto his head, concerned and not fully awake yet. 

“I’m so sorry..I..I let you get hurt. I was distracted and you got hurt because of me, my love.” 

“Astarion, what are you talking about? What..” You wince as you try to sit up, Astarion lifting his head from your lap instantly when he hears the hiss leave your mouth. 

He slips his fingers into your hand, squeezing tightly. “I..I couldn’t stop thinking..and I wasn’t paying attention. If I was..you never would’ve been hurt.” 

His words would almost make you laugh if they weren’t so somber, “Astarion please..this is not your fault.” 

“I knew this would happen..”

“What?” 

“I’m only putting you in danger, being in this group, I’ll only be a burden on you. This will keep happening..” 

Your heart sinks, “Astarion..”

“No..”, His eyes won't meet yours, “I can’t stay any longer. I need to find Cazador.” You open your mouth to speak but he already knows what you're about to say, “Without you.” 

“No..no way!”

“Please..just..” His fingers squeeze around yours again, “I can’t keep hurting the person I love. I can’t do it..not to the only person who's ever allowed me to feel safe.” 

“Astarion..” You place your other hand over his, sitting up straighter to put your face in his, “If you think for a minute that you can get away with telling me you love me, just to run away and leave me, you’re mistaken.” Your foreheads meet, head falling to touch his while lifting your head to cup his cheek in your palm, thumb rubbing over a dried patch of blood on his face. 

He stayed by your side when he could’ve gone to rest and clean himself off, and it makes your heart swell in your chest. You figured you would be alone when you woke up but here Astarion sits in front of you with dried blood covering his face and making his strands of his hair hard under your fingers, eyes tired but still open. 

“Besides I told you, you’d never have to fight him alone..ever again.” 

“I can’t do this to you.” His eyes close, lips pursing. 

“You're not doing anything to me, we're in this together. I promise. ”

“I..”

“Astarion. I said we're in this together. You can leave but you better believe I will follow you until the end to keep you safe. Just like you keep me safe..”

Too Generous. Too Kind.

He opens his eyes to look into yours. They’re so soft, searching your eyes for genuinity. He is unsure whether you mean everything you're saying. But Astarion is sure then as he searches, you’ve never been more truthful in your life. You mean everything. His barricade is broken and he slowly moves in to plant his lips softly to yours, hands shaking against your skin. 

It's soft and unsure. Just like he is. And he doesn’t stay there long in fear of making you uncomfortable, or god forbid he irritates your injury. You can’t help but smile at the genuine smile that peeks out at his lips. 

“So..the person you love?”

“Careful..I can still take it back.” 

[stars-and-inkpots]

True Love's Embrace | Gale x Reader

Finding those rings gives you the chance to protect Gale. Sure, he would never agree to you putting yourself in danger for the sake of himself, but he doesn't have to know.

Pairing: Gale/Reader

Tags: Canon-typical violence, blood and injury, codependency, self-sacrifice, forehead kisses, hurt/comfort

Notes: Inspired by some combat in my playthrough and thinking about the reactions some things may have caused. I simply think that Gale would have an opinion on using those rings, and it wouldn't be a good one (mildly hypocritical, of course).

Ao3 Link: True Love's Embrace

Word Count: 1,785

You know what those rings can do. You know what the wife who gave her husband the matching ring did. What she did was horrible, but you aren’t going to use them like that. 

You know Gale won’t approve of it at all; but the thought of the ring's magic protecting him (even if it was at the expense of yourself) gave you peace of mind. The thought of his safety is enough to drown out the thought of his disappointment if he does manage to find out. 

He didn’t question when you placed the silver ring in his hand. You almost worried that he would know what it was, that he would immediately see through your plan. You gave a relieved sigh when all he did was thank you for the gift and slip the ring on his finger before pressing a kiss to the back of your hand. 

When you put your hand on his shoulder later, it was simple to let the magic of the rings flow through you. You feel the invisible thread that connects you to each other. Gale doesn’t seem to notice.

“Is everything alright? You seem distracted,” Gale asks. 

Guilt runs through you once more, urging you to tell him, but you ignore it. You needed every reassurance you could get to keep him safe here. You could take a few extra hits in battle, it wouldn’t matter. As long as he was safe. 

“I’m fine, just have a lot on my mind… and well, in it, I suppose,” you say, hoping the joking tone will hide the real concerns you have about the danger that surrounds you; and despite the distaste you have for the parasite that has made its home in your skull, you aren’t one to give up the opportunity for an admittedly awful joke. 

Gale groans, but huffs out a reluctant laugh all the same. 

“Hold on-” All of you hear Karlach begin to warn the group from her place in the front, but she isn’t quite fast enough. 

Creatures of vines and shadow shamble out of the bushes ahead. The biggest of the group creeps quickly out of the shadows as it towers over all of you. You barely have enough time to dodge the first round of thorns it shoots at you. 

Karlach is quick to start rushing at the nearest monster, axe swinging wildly as it cuts through wooden tendrils. Astarion manages to get himself further back where he can shoot safely. You and Gale, can’t move away quick enough before the ground erupts into a swarming mass of roots that entangle around your feet, trapping you. 

You do your best, blocking most strikes when you can, swiping your blade across the roots and vines that try to reach out, but your lack of movement makes it increasingly difficult. Several hits make it through your defence, thorns cutting through your armour, pinpointing the weak spots. You can feel the ring working its magic when pain blossoms from phantom wounds as Gale is hit behind you. You endure, knowing that Gale’s injuries would be far worse if you didn’t have these rings. 

You can feel the heat from yet another fireball launched into the thick of the trees. Gale is doing his best to avoid catching anyone else in the crossfire of the blaze. 

When the last creature finally falls, you can take the time to untangle yourself from the roots at your feet. You finally notice the sheer amount of blood that coats the ground around you. Despite the lightheadedness you feel, you push on. 

Gale, though still injured, looks far better than he could have been. That makes this worth it , you assure yourself. It’s nothing that Shadowheart’s magic won’t be able to fix. 

---

Hoping for a simple excursion through the Shadow-Cursed Lands is a laughable desire.

The next day is much like the last. You and your companions are walking through the darkness, ready for some new horror to lunge out from the shadows; and are entirely unsurprised when they do. 

You’ll never get used to the shadow creatures. The tall and imposing beings of pure shadow, but still very much physical and capable of hurting you. Their claws are sharp when they dig into your flesh, and there are so many of them that it’s hard to keep track. They suffocate the light around them, plunging anyone nearby into darkness. 

You can feel each time one of them slashes at Gale. You are made painfully aware of each time the wizard isn’t quite fast enough when jumping out of the way. Even though the pain is lessened by the magic of the ring, combined with the strikes that you’re taking yourself, it leaves you struggling. Standing on unsteady feet, hands shaking as you hold your sword out in front of you, you realise that you might not be strong enough to protect him like you wanted after all. 

Exhaustion takes hold of you quickly. It pulls at you; your muscles feel weak. You let yourself collapse to the ground, unable to hold yourself up any longer. Stars dance across your vision, the world blurs and darkens at the edges. You keep your eyes open as long as you can. Distantly, you can hear someone yelling your name, frantic and scared. Sleep overtakes you, and you slip into the oddly comforting darkness of unconsciousness. 

---

The world returns to you in moments. In one, you are held tightly against someone’s chest, their arms wrapped around you, warm and strong. It is Karlach, you recognise vaguely. You drift away again. In the next, you can hear Shadowheart speaking to someone. Her hands are warm on your arm. You can feel her magic seep through your body; the wounds closing steadily. Then darkness once more. 

The next time you wake up, you aren’t sure where you are for a moment. 

You try to sit up, immediately regretting it as your whole body is wracked with pain. You lower yourself back down on the bedroll which has been covered in many plush blankets. It is then that you recognize the blue fabric of the tent and the books around you that are stacked neatly along the walls. 

With a sudden clarity, you feel the absence of the ring on your finger. 

Shit.  

Pushing through the entrance of the tent, is none other than Gale. He looks down at you, relieved, but also clearly upset. 

“Care to explain what these are? And perhaps, if you would be so generous, tell the truth this time?” Gale holds the two rings in his hand. 

You’re quiet for a moment. You feel awful for lying to him. 

“The rings we found. I thought maybe they were just normal rings, but after reading the diaries we found with them, I realised they could cast a one-way warding bond. I just wanted to protect you. It was something I could actually do to help keep you safe. I’m sorry, I know I should have told you, but you wouldn’t have let me if you knew-” 

“Of course I wouldn’t have let you!” Gale cuts you off. “Why would I let you do something like this? It doesn’t matter what the rings do, I’ll have none of it if it hurts you.” He sighs, frustrated, but clearly only because he is worried about you. 

“I’m sorry.” Your voice is quiet, wavering only slightly. 

Gale kneels down beside you, putting the rings aside and taking your face in his hands instead. “I care about you. I care about you a lot, in fact. When I saw you fall out there, I was terrified. I never want to get that close to losing you again. I know you had only the best intentions, and I am not angry with you; I love you, so very much. I never want you to put yourself in harm's way for the sake of me. Promise me.” He sounds desperate, like the thought of you doing something like this again physically pains him. 

“I promise.” In all honesty, you aren’t sure how much of the truth it is. If there was ever a moment where you would have to make a decision between him and yourself, you can’t promise that you won’t protect him then too. 

But Gale can’t fault you either. He isn’t sure that he wouldn’t do the same for you. In all honesty, if he was in your position, he might have used the rings very similarly, and he can imagine you giving him much the same lecture. 

Both of you are too ready to bleed for the other, for just the chance to keep each other safe. It seems that’s all one can do in this world right now. 

“I love you,” Gale whispers before kissing you, soft and careful not to move you too much while you’re still healing. 

“I love you too,” you answer, covering one of his hands on your cheek with your own. 

“I’ll go and get you some food. You’ve been asleep for a while, I kept near the fire to keep it warm for you.” He presses one more kiss to your forehead before leaving the tent again. 

For now, the rings are forgotten. Your earlier guilt dissipates slowly as you wait for Gale to return. He helps you sit up when he gets back, pain still very much present, but fading the longer you lean against him. He’s quick to wrap an arm around you, letting you put most of your weight against him, which you’re grateful for. 

The entire rest of the night, there isn’t a moment when he’s near you and touching you in some way. While you eat, he’s talking to you about another one of his books, but his arm is around you, hand resting on your hip. After, when you’re laying down again, he’s running his fingers through your hair, or resting his hand on your arm. Guilt returns momentarily when you realise just how much your injuries must have worried him. 

When you finally feel sleep tugging at you again, though less demanding this time, he lays beside you. The pain has subsided for the most part, and you’re able to move yourself to cuddle closer to him. He holds you close to his side, chin resting on the top of your head. 

You can’t promise something like this won’t happen again. Gale can’t promise that he won’t do the same thing. But both of you can promise to try to keep your self-sacrifice to a minimum, at the very least. And you can promise that you’ll always come back to each other at the end of the day. 

[senualothbrok]

Content

Summary: After seeing everyone at the reunion party, Gale wonders if you regret choosing him over Astarion.

Word count: 1.4k

Disclaimers: Non-18+. Unascended Gale x Tav. Unascended Astarion. Mild hurt/comfort. Fluff.

AO3 link

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“That-” The bed dips as he collapses beside you. “Was a lovely evening.”

It is instinct now, to nestle yourself into him, to nuzzle into the nook where his neck meets his shoulder. To interlace your fingers with his.

His words are lightly slurred, drowsy from wine, heavy with pleasure. He is so warm. A light drizzle has begun outside. You lie still, listening to the gentle patter of rain on the sea.

“Everyone looked so happy,” you say. “Did you see Wyll and Karlach?”

His grin is so wide you can hear it. “I can’t say I didn’t see that coming.”

“Even Lae’zel.” You laugh. “She told me she was having a nice time. She used the word nice.”

Gale chuckles. Your body moves to its rhythm.

“Shadowheart wants to stop by again next month.”

“That would be marvellous.”

“Did I show you the duck that Halsin gave me?”

“Yes, my love. More than once. I think you showed everyone at the party.”

You sigh. “Even Jaheira and Minsc looked well. Well, Minsc looked like an escaped prisoner, but I guess that’s his version of thriving.”

“It’s heartening to see that some things never change.” He runs his fingers through your hair, slow and soft. Your eyelids begin to flutter. “And that some things do. Astarion, for instance. He seems remarkably well, doesn’t he?”

Your eyes spring open. You shift your head slightly.

“He does.”  

“He and Tara took to each other like flies to a carcass. For almost half an hour they traded casual insults about my beard, my lack of organisation, and my life choices in general. It was most entertaining. For them.

You trace your fingers over his chest. There are the faintest indents in his skin where the mark of the orb used to be.

“Some things never change.” 

“Indeed.” He kisses your forehead. “Just like the good old days, I suppose, when we were two suitors battling for the prize of your precious affections.”

You look up at him with an arched eyebrow. “Is that what I was? A prize to be won through a contest of manhood?”

He rubs his nose against yours. “Of course not. Your love is a gift, one I never dreamed I’d deserve.”

He goes on before you can protest.

“I think he may still hold my good fortune against me, though. Despite being a changed man. A leader of seven thousand spawn, even.” There is pride in his voice.

In the silence that follows, you bask in that pride. You too are indescribably proud of Astarion, how far he has come, the life he has made for himself.

“No regrets, then?” Gale asks.

He disguises it as a jest, a throwaway comment. But there is a stiffness in his chest, a hollowness to his tone, that he cannot conceal from you.

“Regrets?”

He shuffles. As he tilts his head, you see a crease on his brow.

“Do you regret your choice? Now that you’ve seen Astarion again, in all his glory?”

It is the briefest of moments. You hesitate. And he sees it.

He moves back.  Doubt darkens his features. Desperation quivers in them. He searches your eyes.

You had wanted to brush it off, dismiss it as absurd. Reassure him that you had never entertained any doubts, that you had never been uncertain about your choice. But that would not be true. And you had promised, when you had sworn your lives to each other, that you would always tell the truth.

You had promised each other that you would not sacrifice your own needs on the altar of the other’s approval. Those days were over and gone. You had vowed to always tell each other the truth about what you wanted, what you needed, what you felt. No longer would you ignore or deny who you were out of fear that the other would withdraw their love.

Your marriage had been built on that promise. You could not disregard it now.

“You can tell me.” He nods. There is turmoil in his gaze, but also kindness. And love. So much love.

You place your hand on his heart. You take a deep breath.

“After we ended things, I worried for Astarion. For a long time, I thought I had broken him, even more than he already was. I thought, after all he’d been through, for me to leave him like that…”

You remember the cold tentacles of guilt that latched around your heart, the weight of the shame that crushed you.

“I thought that I could help him. I wanted to be there for him, when no one else had been. He said I was the only one who had ever been kind to him, the only good thing he had experienced in this godsdamned shitty world. To have left him, after all that… I thought I had destroyed him.”

You remember all the sleepless nights, the dreams, the nightmares.  You know, with such certainty, that Gale will understand. You have cradled him in your arms, after all, when he has woken stricken and confused, calling out Mystra’s name. Some things do not need to be explained.

The tenderness of Gale’s gaze gives you strength to continue.

“It was exhausting, to feel like I always wanted him to be something he wasn’t. He resented me for it, for trying to change him. All the times I had to talk him down, justify my decisions, tell him that it was worth it to be kind and compassionate, to help people without expecting anything in return. I’m a Paladin, for gods’ sake, and the number of times I had to explain my oath…” You shake your head. “I felt like I had to make myself smaller, to be a different person, for our love to survive.”

Your voice breaks. “It was too much, anyway, to be the one to save him, to be his only hope.”

There is uncertainty in Gale’s frown. You see the question he holds back.

“It was different with you, Gale. You were a good man long before we met. Even being cursed with the power to obliterate an entire city couldn’t take away your kindness. Your goodness. Even that couldn’t make you bitter or cruel.”

Gale’s face has softened, but he averts his eyes. He looks contrite, when he has no reason to be.

“I admit that I’ve had some concerns.” He grimaces. “When you’re frightfully out of practice, and competing with someone with such clear expertise in matters of seduction…” He clears his throat. “It’s difficult not to wonder.”

“It was never like that.” You hand moves to cup Gale’s cheek. “And seduction, sex – that’s different from…well, making love, forgive the cliché.”

You have discussed intimacy before with Gale, but you have never discussed how things were with Astarion. You do not want to hurt him, but you owe him the truth.

“Sometimes, touch was hard for him. Being close. Showing love. And I understood that. But sometimes, I needed to be touched. To be held.”

It still surprises you, how easy it is to show Gale your heart and all its scars. How safe you feel in the knowledge that he will never run away from them.

“I felt so, so selfish for that.  And for a long time, I blamed myself, for leaving him, for choosing happiness with you.”

The tears come without warning. You brush them away, but they do not stop.

“I could never regret this life with you, Gale. But I did feel guilty. Ashamed. Now, after seeing him, knowing how happy he is, knowing how truly well he is, being able to hug him…” A laugh bursts from you, bright with relief, shaky with tears. “I don’t have to feel that way anymore.”

When he smiles, it is like the light of a thousand stars radiating through you.

“My love,” he whispers. “If I’d known that you were carrying this burden with you all this time, I would have asked you this question sooner.”

He reaches for you and holds you to his chest. You can feel the beating of his heart, echoing through you, boundless as the night sky.

“Choosing you was the best choice I’ve ever made,” you breathe.

His lips caress your hair, your ear, your neck, the tears which fall down your cheeks. His tongue melts into yours as your limbs entwine with his. You give yourself to each other, as you have before, as you will again and again. And for the first time in as long as you can remember, you are content.

----

Liked this fic? You can find more of my work here.

[consistencynevermether]

Astarion x gn Paladin! Reader hcs

A/n: this man has a death grip on me istg. I was writing some Long ass angst about him and decided to take a break for some cute hcs. I might do a few more of these with other classes, so if you’d like to see any other class lmk! Anyways onto the simping

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Alright let’s get one thing straight, this man can and will make fun of you

The SECOND you talk about your oath he’s behind you mimicking your voice with over exaggerated stances. He acts so innocent when you roll your eyes at his antics though

That being said, he actually really values someone who can keep their word. It makes him feel safe, having someone honest by his side after years of toxic manipulation. He’ll never admit to this of course

He finds the armor hot. There’s just something about polished chest plates and clawed gauntlets that look so good on you.

He mentioned once that when he was younger he fantasized about marrying the “hero type, like Wyll” so I think he secretly loves it when you play valiant knight

Please for the love of god give this man a kiss on the back of his hand, he will melt

If you're a more stoic or good aligned tav, he’ll try to convince you to loosen up a little, but never oversteps. Despite his teasings he understands how important your oath is to you, and he loves you the way you are.

Oh and if you ever get short or snarky with someone while your normally composed, this man is howling with laughter. Absolutely encourages little shit behavior

Despite his natural self interest coming first, we see that astarion does approve of you helping children later in the game. So I feel like every time he sees you protect the innocent, or fight for what you believe in, his heart flutters just a little.

You definitely work well fighting together, considering he’s not much for direct fighting and armor is quite hard to sneak in, you both complement each others weaknesses

Speaking of sneaking, Astarion has definitely pickpocketed you just once or twice to see your reaction. Nothing major, just a little trinket or maybe that tart in your backpack you were saving for later. He has to keep you on your toes somehow, plus he enjoys it when you try to chase him down (keyword- try. He’s as slippery as they come and once again, armor isn’t great for speed or sneak)

If you have a routine where you polish and upkeep your weapons and armor, he’s definitely going to keep you company. Maybe he’ll even sharpen some of his own blades while he’s at it. He likes these little mundane moments where you can sit together in comfortable silence. And his daggers have never looked better

While he finds your heroics and honor shtick endearing, you’ll need to understand he’s not looking for some protector or bodyguard. He wants to be your equal, not someone you constantly need to keep an eye on. With that being said, he does enjoy some classic romantic chivalry.

He won’t admit it but that flower you gave him a few months ago? He preserved it by pressing it between pages in his book. He treasures the little gestures you do for him

If you ever have to leave to join some holy quest or whatever for a few months, he definitely wants to come with. But if that’s not possible (maybe it’s after the events of the game and you two are still looking for a way for him to walk in the sun) he’ll definitely write you frequently and try to visit if he knows your going to be in a certain city soon

And you better have the exact👏 same👏 energy👏. Start writing love letters and maybe even send him some gifts as well

And when you're done assisting on this quest, you’d better block out at least a month of time just for him. He won’t admit it but I imagine he’s a bit touchstarved for some wholesome romantic touch

Cuddle him. Now.

While he understands and respects your oath, there’s probably a part of him that worries one day you might leave him if your god asked, or if you needed to go on a quest that might last years or decades

Well guess what? Your god can shove it

You would never abandon Astarion like that, the second you became partners you also became a package deal. You make sure to tell him that your oath is more than just a gods power, it’s a set of ideals that you would gladly follow even without a gods backing if you were ever forced to choose between them and him.

Considering he finds settling down dull and boring, and a Paladin is constantly living a life of adventure, it’s really the perfect match

[graveyardcuddles]

I never really understood when people talked about "the pain" of falling in love with fictional characters. I've had crushes on fictional characters before. I knew people fell in love with fictional characters. Those people described their feelings as beyond a crush and that they truly, genuinely in love with their character. But I never really related to those feelings. Not until Astarion.

I know this post is gonna sound silly to some but I actually teared up a lil writing this lol.

It's kinda crazy to experience this feeling for the very first time at my age. Maybe it's because of the video game romance aspect, which I had never really experienced before bg3. Maybe it was because I met Astarion at a time in my life where I was desperately lonely and isolated.

I was very much in my trauma of something terrible that had happened to me a few years prior that I'm still healing from and will carry with me for the rest of my life. I was abandoned by my friends and family in this crisis and left to pick up these pieces. I lost the opportunity to fulfill some of my biggest dreams. I generally felt broken, ugly, and unlovable.

And then this beautiful man comes into my life and makes me smile and laugh so much more than I've smiled or laughed in literal YEARS. He's this delightful combination of vampire tropes I adore that just tickles me and makes me hang onto his every word.

His flirting is over the top and silly, sure. But I can't help but fall for it because he calls me "darling" and "beautiful" and like....I've literally NEVER flirted with by ANYONE I felt attracted to before. I know a lot of people criticize Astarion fans who fall for his flirting right away for "falling for the act," but it's hard not to when you're not used to feeling desired. For once in my life, it felt nice to be desirable.

And of course, the more I found out about him, the more and more I fell in love with him and wanted to do everything I could for him. Finding every little way to get approval from him in the game. Finding every conversation you could have with him. Dressing him up. Leveling him up and making him stronger. Romancing him. Killing his abuser with him. Freeing him. Finally completing his quest and then getting that last scene with him at the epilogue.

It was after the epilogue scene that I realized I couldn't get enough of him. Thst I was actually MISSING him when I wasn't playing the game. And worse, I started wishing I could literally experience the relationship my Tav has with him. That I he could look at me like that, kiss me like, hold me like that.

I started thinking I really wanted a boyfriend. I wanted to find a nice, sweet, funny bi/pansexual man I could get to know. I downloaded a dating profile. But it didn't take very much time swipping through profiles before I realized I wasn't really looking for any boyfriend. I was looking for an Astarion in the guys on this app. I ultimately felt like it wasn't fair to them to hold them to that expectation.

So I gave up on the idea of dating for now (I have other things going on in life that make that hard, but yeah). My desire to find Astarion in someone else wouldn't end well, probably. I still feel such a strong love and desire for him it actually hurts my heart.

Even so it still took me a LONG time to admit I actually LOVE Astarion, and that this isn't just a regular crush. I didn't WANT to be in love with a fictional character. But after failing to connect with anyone on the dating app I realized this went deeper than just wanting a relationship. This was about wanting a SPECIFIC relationship, one that had serious limitations compared to a "regular" romance.

I know he's not real. And that's part of where the pain comes from. I desperately wish he was real. Or at least a version of him who's in a more healthy, healed place and ready for a relationship. I know one day I might be able to find someone who's somewhat like him. But I'm too afraid I don't have enough to offer a real person for a real relationship right now. I don't know if I ever will be. I know Astarion will always be there for me, though. At least in my heart.

It is painful to be in love with a fictional character. But I do think that is what I feel for Astarion. I think about him every day. He makes me smile and laugh. I picture a life with him all the time. And the joy I receive from thinking about him FEELS like him loving me back.

Astarion has even motivated me to improve myself for the better, somewhat. I make an effort to take care of myself more partially because I feel like he would judge me if I didn't lol.

[antivanbrandy]

i wanted to take a crack at the relationship chart meme for bg3, but made life harder for myself in the process by doodling everyone asdfghjkl

a bit of info about the relationships under the readmore!

so to start from the top and work around clockwise:

Astarion: her best friend, her partner, and love of her life. his flippant hot-n-cold attitude at the start of their relationship (she failed that first big insight check so she didn't know it was all an act at the start) leaves her feeling bad about herself at times, but once they have their Act 2 heart-to-heart, their relationship only goes from strength to strength. we all know what a supportive and loving tav does for spawn!Astarion, but over the course of their adventure he supports her, too. they make each other stronger.

Rhapsody's self sacrificing need to help everyone, no matter how thin it spreads her, comes dangerously close to breaking her by late Act 2. Astarion talks her back from the ledge, so to speak, and helps her realise why she's doing it (Family Trauma Hour 2, Shitty Father Boogaloo) and the harm it's doing her in turn. it's purely self-interest that motivates him at first, because if she burns out then his protection and best chance at taking on Cazador goes with her, but once he comes to care for her his motives are much kinder.

i have so many post-game thoughts for these two, which includes an eventual cast of good old Reincarnation (which i honest to god rolled for and nearly squawked at the outcome) and the very specific complicated feelings that digs up for them, but if i keep typing i'll be here all day.

-

Gale: truly one of her best friends. she could sit with him in silence, just reading together, or her playing an instrument while he studies the weave, and be perfectly content. Rhaps is a lore bard, so she really enjoys swapping stories, information, and theories with him. she's also a big fan of his cooking, and enjoys the simple companionship of doing vegetable prep while he cooks and they chat together. she'd go to bat for him against anyone.

-

Wyll: a dear friend, and inspiration for more than one epic ballad (which makes him proud-blush every time). they swap tales, often together with Karlach, and he's been known to join her in a song and dance when she plays at camp if he's feeling in the spirits. they bond over complicated relationships with their fathers, love of good red wine, and most importantly, their unflinching dedication to helping people in need.

-

Lae'zel: their relationship is complicated. they both operate on a level the other just does not understand, and chafe against the others attitude to life. they grow to respect each other, but never truly become friends, which is sad because Lae'zel does get to a point where she'd like to extend that offer but has no idea how to voice her growing fondness, and then the adventure is over and she leaves with Voss.

-

Minsc: definitely a friend, even if they're not especially close. for his part, Minsc is delighted when Rhaps comes up with a little ditty about him ('from top to tail, evildoers do fear - Boo gnaws their eyes, Minsc kicks their rear!').

-

Jaheira: Rhaps' liked Jaheira immediately, as soon as she clocked the wine was spiked and Jaheira gave her that knowing smile and asked her to drink anyway. Rhaps grew up starved for parental approval and attention, and there's an undeniable current of Momther™ that carries with Jaheira's approval, stories, pick me ups, and pep talks that she latches onto very quickly. Jaheria herself is reluctant to be seen as a mother figure, she has her own kids after all, riiiiiight up until the point the gang come face to face with Rhaps and Aisling's father and she sees first hand how she's treated and how much she wilts in his company. After that it's just kind of defiant instinct, if a parental-flavoured pep talk is what the cub needs to get through the end of days, that's what she'll get, and her old man can go get fucked.

-

Shadowheart: Shadowheart and Rhapsody have a rocky start - Shart's combative attitude puts Rhaps on the backfoot, and they have a two steps forward one step back slow-crawl to understanding each other. There's a bit of a blow-up between them in the shadowlands that sets them back even more; Shadowheart's constant sneering and too-edgy-for-you remarks regarding Selune and Selunite magic grate on Rhapsody, who is already spread desperately thin by this point and is absolutely baffled Shart can't keep it buttoned for ONE minute when Selune is all that's standing between the people at Last Light -the tieflings she fought tooth n nail to save- and a gruesome death. and the more evidence they see of Shar's cruelty in the shadowlands, the more Rhaps begins to truly understand what Shar is capable of and the thinner she's spread from trying to help people in this bleak situation, the closer she gets to lashing out, until eventually Shadowheart goes one snippy comment too far and Rhaps blows up at her. they have it out, and it's bad, but when they eventually make up afterwards theyre stronger for it, and by the end of Act 3 theyre a lot closer than they ever thought possible.

-

Halsin: Halsin is a calming presence in Rhapsody's life. she thought turning down his offer was going to make things awkward for them, but it never did. there's a lot to learn from him, and a call to a calmer life and a sense of peace that Rhaps feels most keenly when she's out in nature with him. the druidic life isn't for her, but those moments of peace do wonders for her when she needs it.

-

Karlach: darling dearest bestest friend, platonic love of her life, sister from another mister, 'would absolutely ride the rollercoaster in the front car with you' bestest best friend forever. Rhapsody adores Karlach, admires and is inspired by her. Rhapsody has had very little interaction with other tieflings, and in comes Karlach full of friendly cheer and good humour and a massive heart, emotional vulnerability and honesty and cheeky smiles, all things Rhaps is drawn to and wants to be. she'd do anything for her, go to any lengths, and I can't even begin to describe how heartbroken this makes her on that dock at the end.

[alpydk]

Eclipse (Part 7) - "Contact Other Plane"

GalexTav (F)

Elminster stood at your door, or what you believed to be him; the subtle glow at the base of his boots, giving it away that this was most likely another simulacrum sent your way with news.

Ao3 Link

You paced the living room waiting for Corlin’s visit, bags under your eyes from little sleep and your mouth dry from neglecting to eat or drink from stress. …I’m very much among the living. He’d confirmed it, he’d confirmed it was him, but again had not recognised your voice. Maybe age had changed you or the years apart had made him forget the little details about you. If he could see your face, or you could get more information to him, then maybe he would be reminded and together you could work out a plan to reunite. But would he even still feel the same? You thought of what he had said to you one evening, how he had declared his love for you with a proposal, conjured stars and poetic language. Had those moments now been lost as well?

You’d seen him together with Astarion, heard snippets of their conversation, the way they talked with each other with such familiarity, and you couldn’t help but worry that maybe over the years you had just been replaced; by Mystra, now by the magistrate. You pushed aside the doubts and let your mind wander to happier memories, ones that would keep you going until Corlin’s arrival later that day.

One of which was another time amongst books. Gale had complained most of the day you’d tried to sneak around the library at Blackstaff Academy in search of a scroll to help with an assignment. Not only was it something that could make your potion considerably more potent, but this brief excursion also gave you the chance to use invisibility spells you’d recently been approved to use outside of the classroom. He griped frequently as you skulked the corridors before eventually ending up in a small alcove amongst the tall bookshelves; another pleasant memory of exploring hands and the use of silence spells. You’d both forgotten the scroll after the distraction, but it mattered not as you returned hand in hand back to your dorm room.

---

Elminster stood at your door, or what you believed to be him; the subtle glow at the base of his boots, giving it away that this was most likely another simulacrum sent your way with news. Still, he played the same games of asking to be waited on as you sat impatiently wanting to know why he was in your home after so long. The last you had seen him was as he had left you in the dark ten years ago, barely holding on to reason.

His voice was exactly as you remembered it, polite and unassuming. If you didn’t know better, you’d have guessed he was somebody’s grandfather, just popping by for some company on a weekday afternoon. “A cup of tea would not go a miss, m’girl.”

You judged his behaviour, your face showing nothing but contempt for his presence, but you stood and brewed the tea, your teeth gritted trying to hold back the words you wanted to shout at him. As you laid the cup down in front of him, you saw the familial smile you’d grown up with; the one you recognised as that of the father you had never had in your life. The topic of parents was one you and Gale had bonded over quickly when you met, both lacking the male role model in your life, and so when Elminster had approached your friend regarding his magic, you too had been quick to take notice and follow in tow.

Before speaking, you distanced yourself from the reminders of better times, not wanting to give anything more of yourself than you had to. “You have your tea. What are you doing here?” A level of guilt for the way you spoke to him rose in you, the powerful and renowned wizard who had shown you nothing but care and concern, gazing at you with sympathy. Of course he had heard about what had happened, word having spread quickly after Corlin’s report, or worse, Mystra’s interference.

“You know why I am here. She sent me.”

You felt the bite of your tongue. Mystra would not let Gale go lightly after all this time, keeping him hidden from you, and now that there was even a chance of you finding each other, she would pounce. You wondered why she hadn’t snatched him up instantly, taking him back to her plane, or blocking all your spells so you’d never found out about his existence. Was this another one of her games? Toying with those lesser than her? “Is it to tell me he is to be taken from me again or that he was not gone to begin with? I care little for pleasantries, if that is the case.”

His eyes darkened with an impatience you had only seen briefly when growing up, times where you had belittled important matters of magic or life itself. “Young lady, if the hands of time could be but puppets to our will, many a tale would unfold differently. Yet, here we stand, amidst the currents of fate. It is as you say, Gale’s return, a harbinger of storms unseen, intertwines our paths once again.”

“And where do those currents pull us again, Elminster? Speak plainly and tell me what is going on?”

He sighed, wishing for this instant to go easier. “In this moment, the mysteries of fate remain veiled to my sight. However, I have been bestowed with a measure of power, a conduit through which you may commune more closely with young Gale, to stand vigilant in my place and safeguard his journey.”

Your face was one of shock as he spoke, taking in the words spoken to you; to see Gale freely as you wished, to watch over him, was quite the offer. “And this is no trick? This is not another of Mystra’s ploys?”

Elminster glanced at the crystal ball lying on the table between the two of you; its light dimmed, showing only the reflection of the two of you. “Rest assured, this is no deception. Through this granted boon, your vigilance shall be unbroken, akin to an ever-watchful eye upon his path. The sending spell bestowed upon you shall serve as a bridge of communication, allowing him to reply should he deem it necessary or seek guidance along his way.”

Your heart increased its rhythm as you watched the elderly wizard place his hands over the ball, a faint light passing into the glass before fading into the picture of a hastily built campsite and the afternoon light shining down on the tents. You could see the movements of what appeared to be a burning tiefling dancing and as you glided your hand across the image, more figures came into view; the half elf with the dark braid, Astarion turning the page of a heavy book, Gale cooking next to the campfire. You gave a small laugh, knowing whatever he made would probably be terrible, memories of your ushering him away from the kitchen, and now tears of happiness burning at the corners of your eyes. “Thank you…” you managed to utter; your eyes glued to the face in the glass.

You didn’t register the nod from Elminster or his own smile at seeing Gale alive and well on Faerûn, you only caught his words as he left, the spark of hope now burning as brightly as ever.

“As you embark upon your journey to reunite with Gale, may the winds of fortune guide your steps, and the wisdom of ages illuminate your way.”

---

You spent a lot of your day just watching his activities. Listening as they all spoke to one another, staring in suspense as they fought ghouls along a winding path. You wondered why he did not just flick his wrist and have done with them, or why every few hours he would stop, appearing as if to be in pain. Even when he was younger, he would complain about his knees, and it was good to see that at least that little trait had not changed. The pains he felt now, though, the ones you saw as he dug through his bag before the glow in his chest appeared; these were much more than the little creaks and groans you knew so well; these were ones you wished so desperately you could heal for him.

“So, do you have loves waiting for you once this is all over?”

Your ears perked up at the conversation the vampire had started. Now you could hear if he would speak of you or another, or of Mystra…

“You know what - that is not the easiest of questions for me to answer.”

Confusion hit you as you heard his response, and you wondered what exactly he meant. The conversation trailed out after some criticisms towards him, and you sat frustrated with what little you were learning over this time. You could watch, but you could not interact, and that in itself was its own form of torture.

At one moment in the late afternoon, you saw Gale enter his tent alone, and you pushed the sensor in after him, your lips curling, thinking back to those days of invisibility within the library. The magic artefact he held vanished in an instance into the glowing markings of his chest and your heart broke as you saw the agony on his face. As he regained his composure and lay down, you spoke, hoping your voice would bring him a little comfort during this dark time.

“Gale?” You saw him sit up in recognition. “It’s me, Tav. Elminster has given me a way to watch over you. Are you well?” Despite your hesitation, you knew you had to say the last words before he confirmed his knowledge of you, as not saying them would lead to only greater regret. “I miss you. I love you.”

You watched as his face seemed to go through a multitude of emotions, ranging from comfort to determination and confusion. If only you could have said more, then you could have explained everything to him; you both could have all the answers you sought. You sat looking into his eyes and you longed to kiss him again, to touch the beard you had never envisioned him to have before. If he wouldn’t answer again, then so be it. At least now you could see him; it was a start.

“Tav? I’m sorry, but I believe you may have the wrong person. I know nobody of that name. Elminster, however, I require a meeting with.”

He did not remember you. You could see it on his face as he thought through the words to say, as he tried to let you down gently and succinctly, the spell’s limit not allowing him to speak more than what was necessary. The burning flames of hope within you began to diminish, feeling as if you were losing him yet again, but you knew now you could not give up on him. Tomorrow you would prepare two spells and again try to remind him of who you were.

You knew that Elminster would come across Gale now that it was confirmed he was alive; it was only a matter of time and you hoped their reunion would help your chances as well, or at least that maybe Elminster would not be as heartless as to take him from you again. Regardless, you needed answers about Gale’s whereabouts these last ten years and why you believed he was dead, as well as why Mystra had lied to you.

---

That evening, you placed your head on your pillow; the crystal ball resting on the side table next to you. Time had passed since Gale had spoken to you and you’d had time to relax a little again, watching as he ate dinner with his party, as they enjoyed the meal he had salvaged together for them. When had he learnt to cook? You questioned to yourself. You saw the way Astarion gently touched Gale’s arm, trying to lure him towards his tent and you smirked when Gale turned him down, instead choosing to lie in bed reading lines of poetry to himself. Still, he wrote prose about the one thing he loved more than you, the Weave, and you mumbled the line he had mocked you for long ago, claiming that the Weave was nothing like a spiderweb before running his fingers up your leg.

As you both slept alone, you listened to his breathing, envisioning yourself lying next to him, your head nestled on his chest, and his arms wrapped around you. You longed to feel the warmth of his body next to you and have the soft kisses placed on your forehead as you lay there with him. If only he could hear it when you whispered, “I love you,” and respond with the words you so desired to hear after so long apart.

[song-writer-melo-wrath]

Hey, Astarion fans

Consider: Sweater Weather for Astarion and Tav. Particularly this cover

All I am is a man, I want the world in my hands

Hmmmm???? At first, this made me think this would only fit Ascended Astarion, but then I realized that such a desire resides in Astarion regardless of route. The world has harmed him so much, that before the choice is made, he thinks, what if the world bent to my will? What if I- and then, what if we used these parasites, used their powers, took over the cult, took over the brain…what if?

The thing with this song is it's also…tender?

And if I may just take your breath away, I don't mind if there's not much to say, sometimes the silence guides our minds, so move to a place so far away

Oh, this line could be taken many ways for him...

In a lot of the encounters in which you seduce him/are seduced by him, the narrator notes that "there's a look about him that reveals he's a million realms away"

Head in the clouds, but my gravity's centered Touch my neck, and I'll touch yours

Aka, dissociating. Understandable, given what he has gone through, and as someone who has gone through something of the same vein, I relate. I digress.

It also speaks to the understanding Astarion and develop. How if him feeding on you becomes a nightly, consensual occurrence, then you don't have to say much of anything about it, just let him know he can. How you can direct his movements in combat. Also, he just generally takes your breath away.

And of course,

Cause it's too cold For you here and now So let me hold Both your hands in, the holes of my sweater

Cold in temperature, or cold in circumstance? Being an undead, the natural assumption for Astarion's body temperature is, well, cold, but I'm more focused in non-temperature cold.

How if you say you want to end things with Astarion, his first response is "oh shit, did I do something wrong?" instead of "why?". How he views himself as lower, especially viewing his past self as lower if ascended. How he has to be cold to survive.

But either route, he still...makes connection. He still is surrounded by people to have and to hold in the spawn route, and is deeply, tightly holding onto Tav in the ascended route.

Crazy thing being, depending on how you play Tav, or Durge, or hell, another Origin character if you prefer, this could easily be them singing back to him.

My Tav (who is named after me lol) in particular I've made very…morally gray. They don't exactly feel the need to take over the world, as they generally approve of the freedom of the people, but who's to say they don't also want the world in their hands?

At one point, Astarion can say to the player character, "I'm not easily impressed by people, but you're stronger than I gave you credit for." The narrator implies it's empty flattery, but over time, "and if I may just take your breath away" applies to them as well.

You know what I think about And what I think about

Thank you for coming to my Tedtalk

[owmyeyeballs]

A Softer Side

So, apparently all I needed to break a maddeningly long streak of writer's block was a stupid lovable bastard of a vampire. Here's some fic involving Team Brainworms being struck down by the flu, and Astarion showing a softer side as he finds himself in the role of caretaker. Tav in this fic is Silence, my tiefling monk, who's romancing Astarion but still dealing with the deaths of her master and her first lover. Pictured below:

May put this on AO3 at some point, but for now, have some unedited sappiness

“Joining me for dinner, are you?”

Silence shifted sleepily in her bedroll, not bothering to look to where she had heard her tent flap move. Only one person visited her this late at night, and only for one thing. Well, usually only for one thing…

“That was the plan, darling. If you’ll allow it?”

Silence gave a hum of approval, shivering as she freed an arm from her blanket. The night had grown unusually chilly, and nothing was going to persuade her to expose more flesh than necessary. No matter how much she’d come to enjoy the attention Astarion lavished on said flesh.

The vampire knelt by her bedroll, and she felt deft, gentle fingers unbuttoning her cuff, and pushing back her sleeve. She opened her eyes just enough to take in the sight of him raising her wrist to his mouth, lips brushing ever so gently across her skin. She shivered, and closed her eyes once more, waiting for the sharp pain, and the cool, pleasant sensation that followed. His cool breath raised gooseflesh on her arm, but the pain didn’t come.

“Darling?”

“Hm?”

“You’re sure this is alright? You’re usually a little more… enthusiastic, shall we say?”

That was true enough. These feeding sessions, once something Silence had approached with great wariness, had become something else entirely. Astarion always made sure her gift of blood was repaid with gifts of pleasure, and even the biting itself had become oddly enjoyable. Silence usually sat up, drew him closer, fondly rolled her eyes at his flirting and held him in a close embrace as he fed, anticipating what would follow. The day had been a long one, however, with an ambush that had scattered their party, and a drawn-out fight that followed. By the time they had reached safety and made camp, Silence wasn’t the only one who had retreated to her tent for an early night.

Still, the hesitance in Astarion’s voice was touching, and Silence reluctantly opened her eyes and sat up, offering a weary smile.

“It’s more than alright. The rest of us eat well. I like knowing you have too. But…” she paused, stifling a yawn, and rubbing her eyes. “… but maybe you can leave thanking me until tomorrow?”

Astarion’s face softened, and he raised her wrist to his mouth once more, pressing a gentle kiss to the place he meant to bite.

“My sweet, generous little snack. Rest assured, I’ll be quick, and leave you to your beauty sleep. Not that you need it, of course!”

Silence rolled her eyes and let out a soft laugh, followed by a sharp gasp as fangs pierced her skin. A moment’s pain, and then that cold, numbing pleasure…

… which abruptly ended. Astarion frowned, raising his mouth from the wound. He licked red-tinged lips, and his frown deepened.

“Everything alright?” Silence asked, worry creeping into her voice.

“I was about to ask you the same thing,” Astarion replied. “Are you feeling quite yourself, darling?”

“Of course. Well, tired, after today, and I think I strained some muscles wrestling that gnoll off Gale. But I think we’re all in the same boat there. It was a rough fight.”

“Hm..”

Astarion raised her wrist to his mouth once more, and she felt his tongue brush the wound he had made, lapping up another mouthful of blood. Silence closed her eyes, assuming he would resume his feeding, but once again he drew back, and this time rather decisively reached for the bag of dressings Silence kept by her bed for these occasions.

“Not to your taste tonight?”

“I’m afraid not,” Astarion replied, applying a dressing to her wrist. “Something’s off. Your blood tastes… I don’t know. Wrong, somehow. Are you quite sure you’re well?”

Leaning in close, he sniffed at her, and Silence drew back, unsettled. Astarion hesitated, before promptly withdrawing, giving an embarrassed cough. Silence found herself, as she often did with Astarion, torn between amusement and sadness. Underneath his flirtatious, seductive mask, the man truly had forgotten the intricacies of closeness.

Hesitant, avoiding her eyes, Astarion raised a hand and reached for her face, clearing his throat awkwardly.

“May I..?”

Silence nodded, and he carefully rested a hand against her forehead, his movements uncertain, as if the gesture was one he wasn’t quite sure he remembered. Touched, Silence closed her eyes, leaning into the cool hand. He hesitantly stroked back her hair, then rested his hand uncertainly against her cheek.

“I don’t think you’re too warm. Perhaps a little..?”

“I’m fine,” Silence promised. “Just in need of a good night’s sleep.”

Even as she said it, doubt flickered across her mind, and the ache in her muscles seemed to intensify.

“… But even so, you shouldn’t stay.”

Astarion gave a huff of indignation.

“Throwing me out just because I can’t give you your usual little thrill? You wound me, darling!”

Silence pulled her arm from his grasp and tucked it back under the covers, laying back down.

“You know perfectly well it’s not that. At least, I hope you know? But if you’re right and I am a bit off colour, I don’t want you catching it. You won’t, will you? From my blood, I mean? You barely took a mouthful…”

“Ha! It’ll take more than a quick sip from you to bring me down, my sweet. I’ll stay, if you’ll allow it? You might rest easier with some company?”

Silence gave a hum of approval, closing her eyes and curling into the blanket, shivering. The night air truly had turned cold…

“… I’ll just fetch an extra blanket. Something tells me you might need it.”

After a night of restless sleep, Astarion awoke to an overheated body clinging to him for dear life and coughing pathetically. He heaved a sigh, and attempted to sit up, only for the tielfing to cling on tighter, even her tail curling around his leg.

“Much as I love a cuddle, darling, you’re going to need to let go and let me take a look at you. I knew something wasn’t right.”

Silence coughed again, whimpering as he wriggled out of her grip, and curling herself up tighter in the blankets. Astarion once again pressed his hand to her brow, more confidently this time. What had been a little extra warmth last night had developed into a sickly heat, and the hair he combed his fingers through was damp with sweat. Silence opened glassy eyes and looked up at him warily.

“… Stars? You shouldn’t stay.”

Even as she said so, she clung to his sleeve, trying to pull him closer, and her tail tightened around his leg. She whined pathetically as he took his hand away from her face, and squeezed her eyes shut as if hurt by the light. Astarion carefully eased himself from her grasp, and tried not to be concerned by the sudden ache in his chest as she reached for him again.

“I know, darling. You’re not the first to be desperate to keep me in bed. But I need to go and find something or someone to make this better. Just… Try to sleep? That’s what you do, isn’t it? Try to sleep these things off?”

Silence attempted a mumbled reply, and broke out coughing again, harsh and painful. Astarion flinched at the sound, and hastily covered her with the blankets before fleeing the tent, the ache in his chest growing somehow worse.

“Wizard? Wizard! Gale! Wake up!”

Gale stirred with a snort, and slapped irritably at the hands shaking him awake. Opening his eyes, he scowled at the vampire kneeling over his bedroll.

“Good morning to you too, Astarion. I assume this is urgent? Given your diet, presumably you aren’t here to demand I make a start on breakfast?”

“To hells with breakfast! Get up! What do you know about healing?”

That seemed to wake Gale up a little more. He quickly threw back his blanket and got to his feet, one hand smoothing his hair, the other reaching for the nearest pile of spellbooks.

“Who needs healing? Not you, apparently, since you’re in fine voice and well enough to be dragging innocent people from their rest. And why come to me? Surely this is more a cleric’s duties? Have you been to see Shadowheart?”

“Of course I’ve been to see her!” Astarion snapped. “She’s in much the same state as Silence. Feverish, coughing, and perfectly useless! Now can you fix it or not?”

“She’s not the only one,” announced a voice from outside the tent. Karlach pushed the tent flap aside, careful not to ignite it, worried eyes turning from Gale to Astarion. “I went to wake Wyll for a run before breakfast, and he’s in a right state. Can’t touch him, obviously, but I can still tell he’s burning almost as hot as I am!”

Gale groaned, setting down the book he had opened and pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

“Well, seems our merry little band is staying put for a few days. Almost amusing, really. We can storm a goblin stronghold, battle bloodthirsty gnolls, send brutes and bandits running, but a bout of flu brings us to our knees. Nothing to do but wait it out, I’m afraid. I’ll set to work on a pot of soup, and you two, just… offer what comfort you can.”

Karlach groaned.

“Really? We just have to wait? Ugh, fine… Guess it’ll be nice to have a rest. Just wish it didn’t have to be because half of us are busy hacking their lungs up.”

Dejected, she retreated from the tent. Gale gave Astarion a pointed look, clearly expecting him to follow.

“You really can’t do anything? You’re always flaunting your expertise on every subject imaginable, and the best advice you can offer is ‘wait it out’? You don’t have some spell tucked away, some little ritual you’ve just been dying to show off..?”

“No, I don’t! If you want to help, just… Go back to Silence. Look after her. It’s the least you can do after sucking her dry whenever you need a snack.”

Astarion flinched. Evidently there was still some lingering bitterness between them, after Gale’s advances had been awkwardly rejected, and Astarion’s had won him Silence’s companionship. He shifted awkwardly, glancing out of the tent, but making no move to leave.

“What am I supposed to do?”

Gale gave him a look of disbelief, and Astarion hastily went on.

“I mean, what… What can I do? I don’t… This isn’t…”

Gale folded his arms and held his gaze, and for once remained silent, clearly intent on waiting him out. Astarion gave an irritated huff, avoided his gaze, but finally offered some words to fill the silence.

“All these years, the only times I’ve been ill have been from rancid rat blood. And Cazador wasn’t exactly the tender, caring type. I’ve tried thinking back to before, to when I was mortal, but it’s… Those times are lost to me.”

Gale’s expression softened.

“Apologies. Of course, you’ve little experience in the matter. Truly? Just be a comfort to her. You can try to cool her if she seems overheated, or warm her up if she has chills. Make sure she drinks, and when I’ve cooked it, try to get her to have some soup. An old family recipe, guaranteed to see our afflicted on the mend! Though I’ll omit the garlic, for obvious reasons, even if it does have my grandmother turning in her grave!”

Astarion gave a brief laugh, and Gale smiled encouragingly. Turning back to his piles of books, he considered them carefully, and pulled a volume from the stack, pressing it into Astarion’s hands.

“Here. My mother used to read to me when I was ill as a boy. Used to find it quite soothing. You might give that a try. Now, if you’re done bothering me, perhaps you’ll leave me to dress for the day?”

Somewhat reassured, Astarion nodded, leaving the wizard to his business and returning to the tent where Silence lay.

How many hours had passed, Silence couldn’t say. Fever dreams muddled her mind as she tossed and turned, coughing helplessly, one minute kicking off her blankets, the next pulling them as tight as her aching muscles could manage. All the while, a cool hand stroked her hair, and pressed a damp cloth to her flushed cheeks. A cup was periodically pressed to her lips, and a soft voice urged her to drink.

The voice was a constant. Low and soothing, so comforting she barely felt the need to follow what was being said. Sometimes it seemed to be reading, other times mindlessly chatting, sometimes questioning her, although answering was beyond her fever-addled mind. Someone was present, someone close. A few times she tried to talk, but the words scraped her raw throat, and her companion quickly quieted her.

“… Master…?”

“… Vel…?”

“Shh. No, darling. I’m sorry. Just me.”

“… Stars?”

A hand on her shoulder gently shook her awake, soft but insistent, and she moaned slightly as she opened her eyes. A pale face swam into view, red eyes full of concern. The air was full of steam, and some fragrant, savoury scent.

“I know, you want to sleep. And I’ll let you, but you need to keep up your strength. Come on, sit up. Gale assures me this is a Dekarios family miracle cure, so let’s give it a try, shall we?”

A hand behind her back carefully lifted her from her pillows, and a cool body settled behind her, propping her up. Blinking hard, she fought to clear her mind.

“Astarion. You’re here.”

“And not going anywhere, darling. Come on, open up.”

A hot spoon pressed to her lips, and she hissed in pain as hot soup burned her mouth. Astarion swore.

“Damn it all, how do people make this look so easy..?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Silence saw him raise the spoon to his own mouth, and heard him blowing. The next mouthful she was given was cooled, and she gave a hum of satisfaction.

“That’s better. No, no nodding off, my dear. That’s it, just a little more..”

When Silence next awoke, it was with a clearer mind. She almost wished for the fog of fever to return. Everything ached, and she coughed until spots danced across her vision. Someone helped her sit up, patting her on the back until the fit eased, and she found herself blinking at Astarion through teary eyes.

“How long have I been sick?”

“A day, and most of a night. It’ll be dawn in a few hours.”

Silence groaned.

“Gods. We can’t afford to be losing time like this…”

She tried to get up, and Astarion pushed her back down.

“No you don’t, darling. Excellent news! You’re not the only one in such a state. Shadowheart and Wyll are just as miserable, and while Lae’zel insists she’s immune to such undignified istik ailments, I believe I heard some suspicious sniffles from her tent earlier.”

Silence frowned.

“Explain how exactly that’s excellent news?”

Astarion sighed dramatically, as if explaining himself to a small child.

“Because, my dear, you were about to insist we get back to travelling tomorrow, weren’t you? Don’t deny it, I can see it in your sweet, stubborn little face. You want to be back on the road, no matter what condition you’re in! You’d insist, we’d quarrel, it’d all be terribly tedious. But dear Shadowheart? Poor, sweet Wyll? You don’t have it in your heart to drag them from their sickbeds, do you?”

Silence scowled, and Astarion gave a maddeningly sweet smile in response.

“Of course you don’t! So, you’re going to stay in bed, and let me dote on you, and we’re all going to enjoy a nice, well-deserved little break. A shame it had to come at the expense of you being miserable, but we may as well make the best of it.”

Leaning forward, he pressed a quick kiss to her brow, and eased her back into bed, draping an arm over her waist and pulling her close. To her deep annoyance, Silence couldn’t help but pull him closer still.

“You’re insufferable.”

“And yet, you suffer me.”

“You shouldn’t be so close. You’ll catch this.”

“Not going to happen. Go back to sleep. I’ll bring you tea when morning comes, like the absolute saint I am.”

For three days, Silence remained in bed, sweating and shaking in turns, calling out in feverish nightmares, alternating between wakefulness and delirium. Astarion remained at her side, calming her when she woke crying out, distracting her with idle chatter when sleep wouldn't come, and informing her of the condition of the others. Shadowheart and Wyll were in much the same condition, and after two days of cooking for the sick, Gale had succumbed too, Astarion and Karlach bullying him into bed. Lae’zel had confined herself to her tent, snarling at anyone who dared enter, although Karlach appeared to have had some success over the last day in offering some care.

At last, Silence awoke to a clear mind, body weak but no longer aching, and the rawness in her throat all but gone. Enjoying a deep breath that finally didn’t provoke a fit of coughing, she turned her mind to the body pressed against her, arms tightly gripping her waist, cold breath against her neck.

“Astarion? You awake?”

A sleepy, annoyed mumble, and his nose nuzzled into her neck. She smiled fondly, closing her hand over his.

“Think you can stop playing nursemaid today. I’m feeling better.”

“Mmhm. Good. Let me sleep.”

“Thank you. For everything. Never expected to see this side of you.”

“… Mhm... hm...”

“Stars?”

A moment of quiet passed, followed by a yelp from Silence as Astarion sneezed against her neck.

“Really?!” she sat bolt upright, turning to face the vampire as he grumbled at the sudden loss of warmth. She frowned, watching him sniffle and scrub at his nose. “Oh no. Oh, Stars, I warned you…”

“S’nothing… Your hair tickles…”

His voice was rough, not at all his usual seductive purr, and he grimaced slightly and coughed. Silence reached out to feel his forehead, and he whined and pulled away. Not before her fingers brushed over cool skin. Cooler even that usual, and decidedly clammy.

“Can vampires get fevers?”

Astarion mumbled something indistinct, and groped about for the displaced blankets, coughing again. Lightly at first, then hard enough to bring tears to his eyes. Stirred by a pang of guilt and sympathy, Silence lowered herself back into bed, pulling the blankets over them both, and pulling Astarion into a tight embrace, gently rubbing his back.

“Easy, now… Slow breaths. I’m sorry, Stars. All that devotion, and nothing but the plague for your troubles. Try to get back to sleep. I suppose we can’t exactly give you soup, but once you’re resting, I’ll track down something for you to feed on.”

Astarion shook his head, and pulled her closer.

“No. Stay. Feel awful. Been so long since… Just… Stay?”

Another bout of coughing, weaker, this time, and Silence felt tears as he nuzzled into her neck. Another sniffle, although this time Silence suspected emotion was to blame. She pressed a kiss against his tousled curls, and rubbed circles against his back, settling in for what she suspected would be quite some time.

“Easy, Stars. Of course I’ll stay. We promised, remember? You’ve got my back, I’ve got yours. You were here for me. My turn.”

[aladaylessecondblog]

the life you knew before (good tav/gortash pt. 4)

Previous chapter here

Banter, and sex (obviously). Enjoy :)

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

Tav stood, mind off like a shot. Cazador she had seen several times in the eight months she had been Duchess Gortash, and somehow it had entirely slipped her mind to talk to him about...the situation.

How, how could I forget about CAZADOR?

The same way you forgot about ME, my dear, returned Astarion's voice in her head.

"Lord Szarr," Tav gave a slight curtsy, "A pleasure to see you. I almost didn't recognize you, so rarely do I see you outside your palace."

"And so rarely do any see you outside the city."

"True enough," she replied, "I've had so much to do...but I have had rather a...taxing day. I found time in nature and with...old friends...a better prospect than remaining behind stone walls."

Cazador did not respond to that, but took a step forward and looked down on the gravestone.

"Were you--"

"Who is this Halsin?" he interrupted and gestured at the carving atop the headstone. "Don't tell me Astarion went and wed himself to a bear."

"A druid...he did love to stay in his wildshape much of the time. Were you...familiar with Astarion?"

She hated to pretend it, but she also knew it was a good idea to act as though she did not know what he was. For now.

"Perhaps we might call him a bastard son, for certainly he acted like one. Running off like a slave, cavorting with--animals..."

Is he daring me to say something?

Cazador then turned those eyes on her. "And you say you loved him."

"I--did, yes. Before I met the Archduke, of course." She looked at the gravestone and gave a soft smile. "It was strange how long it took to earn his trust. He was running from something, I think."

"He always was a fearful sort. I assume you were the one to bury him? The one to make this gravestone?"

Tav took a deep breath before she answered. "I was, yes."

"Quite frankly, it surprises me that you would bother."

His voice was so severe; it made her think she'd done something wrong. She resented the feeling, but tried to keep her tone polite.

"Every man deserves a proper grave," she replied evenly. "I did not know him long, but...for that time, he was..."

It had started with wanting him, as she was sure he had intended. Then it had become oh-so-much more, and now...now, she didn't know.

She bowed her head just slightly.

"One might think you are unhappy in your marriage, if you pine so over a dead man," Cazador said then. "I cannot think the Archduke would approve."

"He knows of this...former romance. And he knows--" Tav gulped just slightly before going on, "--he knows, really, that 'tis he who holds my heart now. It is just that every so often...I think of the past, and what might have been."

"A life in the trees amongst the beasts is not fit to be lived." The sternness had a slight edge in it now, "You are lucky to have the Archduke to show you that there is more to life than speaking to those who have nothing to say worth hearing."

"It would have been good enough for me. My poor pale elf could have used a few colorful flowers in his hair."

With that she turned and began to walk away.

(The spawn who had been holding the umbrella over her head seemed to tense; she actually saw his eyes widening into fear when she looked.)

"I wasn't done speaking to you," Cazador said.

"I was done listening." It was out before she could stop it.

"One might think badly of a lady who makes so free with those above her."

"The only man above me is the Archduke, Lord Szarr. Unless you have plans to ascend to a crown."

She turned back briefly.

"One never knows what might happen," Cazador said in a darker tone, "I am surprised, you know, that you have so sharp a tongue. I expected nothing like this from so subservient a woman."

"I am such to my husband and no one else."

It was the last thing she said to him as she walked away. There was a strange thrill and yet a fear with it when she heard Cazador seething.

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

"Someone's been acting up today."

Tav had been standing by the window, staring out at the ships passing on the water for nearly an hour when she felt Gortash's hands on her hips.

"Your lady is only feverish," she said quietly, "An illness she caught tending to the needs of the people..."

"Of course she will require several days of rest to recover. After all, her loyalty is well known...and anything that could make her say such terrible things in earshot of others, well..."

It was easy, so easy, to relax into his touch. To gently cover the hands that slid forward and around the bump of her belly and feel...well, she didn't know what she was feeling. But she couldn't think that it was wrong anymore.

And even that fact was not scary any longer.

"When are you going to grow angry?" Tav asked after a long silence. "Throw something, perhaps...or have me locked away for making you look foolish?"

"Is that what you think of me?" Gortash's voice was softer than she had yet heard it. "I wasn't lying when I told you that you had nothing to fear from me."

Please... She gulped softly and begged silently, as she had been begging for months now. Stop being like this. Like someone I could...

To distract herself Tav looked out the window. The sun was setting in brilliant reds and golds, with a single dark ship passing on the horizon.

"You were a decision I made in haste, and I presume the same could be said from your position. But must you keep yourself in this state of agony? I'm sure you don't wish to be there." There was the lightest of grips at her belly. "And it's certainly not good for the child."

Deep breath.

She thought of Astarion, the first time he was comfortable participating in the lovemaking with Halsin. The first time she had woken up with the two of them. The last smiles she'd seen from either of them.

Then...

Then those thoughts turned to Gortash. The dances she had with him at the wedding, the smiles he gave at balls later on...the way he went about showing his interest. He was for every appearance a perfect gentleman...except in the bedroom, where he did things that made her weak in the knees. Where he left her wanting only to push her to greater heights of desire.

And where of late she slept beside him more often than not.

Tav opened her eyes and saw that the ship on the horizon was gone.

"You have not been what I expected," Tav replied, "Everything since the tadpole has been an endless series of unpleasant surprises. I could scarcely lay down my head without being woken by some problem, some fight...and then...then I lost everything."

Where was this coming from? Why was she saying all this this? She hardly knew. Her emotions were a horrible typhoon centered around the calm that he'd created. She had now been his wife longer than she had ever been with Astarion or Halsin...and there was a space shaped like him forming in her mind.

"I'm afraid to be at rest." she added "Because when all is quiet..."

She waited--waited for some mocking, some cutting remark she was sure was coming. But none did.

Deep breath.

"The nastiness comes out. My poor bride, dealing with so much...and alone. You really needn't do that. After all, how well can you help me handle this city if you are so burdened?"

"I didn't know whether I could trust you then...and now...and now..."

"We should lay down," Gortash said, "Clearly, you're in need of rest."

Tav relaxed and allowed herself to be lead to her bed, and was glad when he joined her. Even more so when she realized he was clad as he had been that first night, with one difference--this time, he wasn't wearing the gauntlet. Just that pair of black trousers...

"Something set this off," he said gently in her ear. "I want to know what set it off."

"I..." she took a deep breath as Gortash reached a hand up to stroke at her face. "I visited the...the grave, and...there's something--someone you should know about. I was...afraid to mention it because he's..."

"Did he harm you?"

"No, but...he could be dangerous to you at some point soon. I forgot all about him with the...the uh...what lead to my marrying you."

She was glad. So very, very glad, that he was really listening to her right now.

"Cazador." Tav said, "He was...Astarion's...sire. A vampire...and one of the most abusive pieces of shit I've ever heard of, if the way Astarion acted was any indication. I had been planning to deal with him--"

"Unsurprising," Gortash replied, "The man was always odd and reclusive, and while I had my suspicions..."

"And I may have upset him by not...paying him what he saw as his due. He's planning some sort of ritual..."

Here she explained what she knew of Cazador and his plans for ascension, and while Gortash quickly began to look more severe, at least he didn't vent any of that potential anger on her.

"I must inform the guards about that. Noble or not, I'll not have him steal what I've worked so hard for." He smirked slightly and pressed a brief kiss to her lips. "And I'll not have YOU risking either your life or my heir's by going after him."

"I've helped imprison Mizora--the former patron of the Grand Duke. I've assisted in the killing of a cambion..."

"Really, now."

"Raphael never stood a chance. Foolish man...and very stupid, too, telling me he had something I wanted, and by extension where to find it WITHOUT taking his deal."

There was something in Gortash's face then that she had never seen before.

Shock.

"I...presume...that you are not talking about th--"

"Raphael of the House of Hope, the one who wanted me to hand over the crown to him so he could become king of the hells or something along those lines."

"And you are...quite certain...that he is dead?"

"Certain as the sunrise," Tav replied. "He'd been a smoothtalking pain in my ass for too long for me NOT to kill him."

A pause...and then, from nowhere--one second, Gortash was laying beside her, looking her in the eye. The next, his lips were on hers and he was moving over her.

"Eager," she got out quickly, and when he let her break for air she added, "Aren't we?"

He didn't answer. There was a pause, and then, in rather an awkward dance she reached down to pull up the hem of her gown as his hands moved down to rid himself of his trousers.

"Off," he demanded, once he was bare before her, as he tugged her gown up and over her head. He yanked off her underclothes and moved atop her, planting another hot kiss on her lips.

Tav returned the kiss, and awkwardly shifted beneath Gortash as she spread her legs for him. And despite the awkward maneuvering due to her swollen belly, they contented themselves like this for several minutes.

He seemed to want to say something at one point--but then apparently thought better of it, and settled for pressing his hard cock against her wet heat and thrusting inwards a moment later. Tav groaned, and reached up, wanting to hold SOMETHING. Her hands ended up on his shoulders.

"Please," she said, meeting his eyes, "I want--"

It was what usually excited him. Her begging, pleading to be fucked, yet somehow this time, she didn't need to say any more. He drew back and pushed forward in rapid thrusts that were pushing her high already from how deep they were hitting.

More, more, MORE

Tav's nails clenched at the skin of his shoulders, and her knees squeezed at his sides as his hips rocked against hers. Gods above, how badly she suddenly wanted to kiss him again!

But there would be none of that, only the repeated invasions of his cock, spearing and spreading her around him as he vented whatever in the hell this was.

"More," she moaned softly, "More..."

She needed him now, wanted to feel him within her, to be reminded of what passion lay behind that dark smirking face of his.

And he was going to give it to her.

Gortash's thrusts grew faster and faster still. He braced himself with one hand and lowered his face, only just far enough away from hers to prevent a kiss. But she could see it now, the expression, the desperate need for her, the agonizing pleasure he felt as the climb begin.

It was like he wanted her to see his ecstasy, to witness what he was drawing from her.

"Harder--"

It sparked suddenly, unexpectedly, and Tav forced herself to keep that eye contact as the pleasure seized and burned through her body in rapid wildfire.

"Oh, gods!"

She moaned for Gortash, let him hear her pleasure, let him see the look in her eyes as she let go. It lifted her high, so high, so achingly keen, and then dropped her back into the warm sea of the afterglow.

Faster, and faster still. She was still sensitive but he was thrusting hard, lust driving him onward with no coherent thought or reason other than fuck. She bore with it, bringing her heels up to dig into his ass and encourage him to go deeper still.

No moment of hesitation appeared, as sometimes it had since first they had been married.

Tav kept his gaze, and it was exhilarating. He was close, so close, and for once she was focused solely on that, on seeing his pleasure, taking it in in every sense of the word.

On an inward thrust, as he sheathed himself entirely inside her, it struck him. His cock pulsed and he went empty inside her in three warm waves of lusty heat that rose threatening to drown him.

Gingerly, Gortash withdrew from her and curled close, as though all the troubles of the world melted away with his head on her chest.

For all his scolding that she needed to relax, Tav realized--as she raised a hand to tangle its fingers in his hair--that this was the first time she had ever seen him do so.

[domnorian]

How does isekaied Luthor get along with his companions?

Oh boy, it's gonna be a long one. I'm gonna make a list in order of appearance.

First, let me tell you that for ALL the companions, Lex WILL adapt his personality to be sure they will stay by his side. Because he's a manipulative bitch. But I guess everyone knew that already.

Lae'zel : She's an alien. And an alien from a species that tries to conquer the galaxy. So of course Lex first reaction to her and her people was not particularly friendly. But the fact she get things done, she's strong and efficient, made him quickly change his mind. He realized she was a very helpful asset. He also started asking questions about her people, to learn more about them because he's a giant nerd. Lae'zel quickly showed an interest in him: Lex is strong, charismatic (16 in charisma helps), smart and pragmatic, so of course she fell hard for him. And since it was just about sex and no feelings attached, Lex went with it. Lex still would betray Lae'zel if she wasn't enough of an asset for him anymore though. Lucky for her, she is pretty useful. He made sure to make her see what her Queen really was. And I think Lae'zel would now follow him until the end of times.

Shadowheart : Yes, Lex saved her on the mindflayer ship. For the same reason that he agreed to take all the others with him: he is aware he needs all the help he can get. So he opened her pod, hoping she could prove useful or throw her on a mindflayer to be able to escape. Fortunately, she was useful. The main issue is that Shadowheart tends to trust the wrong kind of persons, as you must know. And Lex is no exception. He did try many times to steal the artifact from her but failed. The fact she was avoiding telling the truth, though, that annoyed Lex pretty badly. When she finally revealed who she was, he at first was sceptical about her religion, but eventually showed great interest in Shar (you know, the whole "hope is pointless" was the moment he decided her religion wasn't so bad). Since Shadowheart was used to people hating on her cult, she was pleasantly surprised and well... let's just say she likes Lex. She approves his decisions most of the time and regrets hiding the truth from him since he's so trustworthy and comprehensive (lol). I think deep down she knows who he really is... but in the full meaning of it. She sees a broken man who will fight until the end to get what he wants. I think she pities him in some way.

Astarion : I was actually not that surprised when I realized Astarion and Lex wouldn't get along really well. Sure, Astarion approves Lex's decisions most of the time. But he still disapproves when Lex asks him to fuck off. Which is pretty often. For Lex, Astarion is annoying and clearly tries way too hard to get his nose into Lex's business. Also, the fact he hid he was a vampire. I wouldn't say Lex hates him, though. They have a relationship that looks more like siblings bickering. Astarion likes to mess with Lex and Lex likes to remind Astarion who's boss and who's the man who gave his blood so Astarion could finally be useful. I think maybe Astarion doesn't trust Lex because he reminds him too much of Cazador.

Gale : Ha. Gale. Poor darling. He really was right when he told Lex that he made him worse. Lex has a very bad influence on Gale. And Gale knows it. But he also knows he has no choice but to follow Lex to survive. He really is the one companion I'm truly sad about. He knew from the beginning that Lex was bad news but he went with it anyway. They both try to be civil with one another. Lex is a very good student to Gale and always listen to him when he talks about magic. Because for Lex, magic is science unexplained. And he's dying to find an explanation.

Wyll : Lex tried his best to manipulate Wyll. Only to fail again and again. Wyll isn't dumb, he sees clearly that Lex isn't a hero but is a selfish bastard with too much ambition. Lex thinks Wyll is an annoying goody two-shoes. When Wyll left after they attacked the emerald grove, Lex was relieved.

Karlach : Lex and Karlach didn't interact much. Lex did try to manipulate her as well but she too left camp after they attacked the emerald grove.

Minthara : She and Lex are adorable. In a creepy kinda way. That's all I'm gonna say for now because I will post screenshots of them later I think.

Halsin : Believe it or not, Halsin is still alive. He reminded Lex too much of Clark to be able to kill him from the get go. So Lex made sure the goblins already left the place when he rescued Halsin. Of course, Lex lied and didn't tell him he was with the goblins at the time. Halsin left, trying to reach the grove in time. Lex told him: "good luck". Maybe he did have luck because Lex didn't find Halsin on the battleground. He's hoping Halsin left and is still alive somewhere.

That's it for now. It may evolve as I progress into the game.

[brain-rot-central]

I had a thought the other day. Really wish I could draw because I'd love to fucking draw this:

(Ascended Astarion coming to find my Tav [Liriel] a few months/years later because she initially refused his offer to turn her into a spawn.

Now that the rush of newfound power and awe has subsided, he needs to have her back. Basically Liriel lives in an apartment above a shop in Baldur's Gate and leaves her balcony window open one night. Astarion has of course had eyes on her this entire time; his new hoard of spawn and thralls have had specific orders to watch her from the shadows but never touch, giving him periodic updates on how she's doing.)

A small white bat flies through her window and perches atop the back of a chair, across from her bed. Liriel looks up from the book she's reading, tilting her head to the side as she contemplates the white fur of the bat. She doesn't recall ever seeing a bat with white fur, until it clicks. "...Astarion?" she questions.

The bat opens its wings as if to take flight, summoning a puff of white smoke. Astarion comes into view as the haze begins to clear. "It's rather dangerous for a young woman to leave her window open at this time of night," he says as he begins walking toward her bed, helping himself to a seat on its edge.

(Basically they go back and forth until Liriel inevitably agrees to become a vampire, though on a few conditions.)

"You need only ask, my love, and it shall be yours," he coos into her neck.

(She's straddling his lap on the edge of the bed at this point.)

Her hands are in his hair as she speaks into his ear. "I will bear your live-born children. Two, to be exact." Her hands travel down to hold each side of Astarion's face, gently directing it upward so he could meet her gaze. "Then, and only then, Astarion, will I submit to your request. However..." She watches as his eyes travel down to her mouth, and she feels the expanding of his chest as he takes a deep breath.

"Look at me, Astarion," she demands. His eyes travel back to her own as one of her thumbs gently strokes his cheek. "You will make me a vampire. I will be no spawn, no creation of yours. I will be my own being." His eyes narrow into slits as his nostrils flare. "Surely you of all individuals could understand why, hmm?"

"You'd like me to sire your children, though you ask to become my competition? How exactly is that a fair deal for me?" Astarion's hands move from her hips up to her waist, one hand traveling further up the middle of her back.

"They won't only be my children, Astarion. They're ours. Our creations. Our legacy." The pad of her thumb swipes gently across his bottom lip. Liriel gave a soft chuckle. "I would never challenge your rule. You'd govern all of Faerun as their 'Forever Master and Lord Astarion Ancunin,' and I their 'gentle Lady Liriel.' The people will love you, bow willingly to you, and I will stand proudly at your side as they offer their necks, and their lives, to your whim."

Liriel felt a small rumble escape Astarion's chest. She watched his eyes fall closed as he hummed in approval at her words. "That does sound quite delectable, my treasure."

When Astarion opens his eyes, Liriel sees the lustful stare she'd come to know years ago. Hurried couplings in the forests of Faerun, rough and messy. Unpracticed rutting out of pure desperation, not knowing what tomorrow would bring. It had ended in a confession of emotion by Astarion, allowing for more fonder matters of the heart to take root. For a small moment, Liriel sees the love that was ever-present in his soft gaze. Only ever directed at her. She recalls words he'd spoken to her as she was wrapped in his arms, "I'm doing this for you, too, you know. For us."

Astarion's lips find hers, and a hand comes up from her side to cover her own on his cheek. He gently peels Liriel's hand from his cheek, turning his face to place kisses into her palm. "If that is what you're proposing, my love, then I believe I can be persuaded."

(Liriel ends up birthing twins, a boy they name Nathaniel and a girl they name Anastasia. Astarion assigns Liriel a personal guard during her pregnancy named Gideon; Liriel inevitably asks Gideon to become Anastasia's protector after birth. He basically acts as a second father figure when Astarion is away conquering new lands.

I really love the idea of Astarion and Liriel having kids ahhhhhhh I really wish I could draw!! Maybe I'll write some more about them.)

[thedragonagelesbian]

For the companion tav asks for Cyrus:

7 for general

12 for Story

11, 12 for romance

💞

thank you 💕💕💕

companion tav asks

7. (General) Do they have their own personal quest that spans the course of the game?  Can it take different branching paths depending on the choices the Player Character makes?

Yes!!!! This is going to be needlessly long & detailed 👍

Act 1 (The Austringer)

Like for Shadowheart & Astarion, Cyrus' Act 1 quest is less about accomplishing anything in particular and more about being a nosy bitch. The player learns in his recruitment that he is the Champion of Iriaebor and the sworn sword of its ruler, Lady Meredith Stannard (the shared tadpole vision is him swearing fealty to her for the first time). Despite being keen to return to her, Cyrus initially hides the extent of their relationship, his feelings on the matter complicated by the recent life transference spell.

There are a couple of ways to learn more from him, including some insight/persuasion checks when asking him about his life in Iriaebor. If the player gets his approval high enough, they'll get a cutscene in which they find him studying his reflection in the Chionthar. He admits that he's still adjusting to this changed body, as he gave away a century of his life to prolong Meredith's and is still quite young for an elf (~175). Taking Cyrus to the Zhentarim hideout will also prompt some unique, hostile dialogue as the player learns that Cyrus and Meredith crusaded violently against the Zhentarim in Iriaebor-- and this branch of the organization is even holding one of Meredith's couriers, who was sent to look for Cyrus, prisoner.

If the courier is freed, they will explain that Meredith has devoted countless resources to finding Cyrus again and bringing him home, but Cyrus says that he cannot leave until the parasite problem is resolved-- no matter how badly he wants to return to her side.

At the tiefling party, Cyrus accidentally gets shitfaced drunk and is exuberantly enjoying himself, seeming much happier & more carefree than he has at any other point in the game so far, and he admits that he hasn't had this much fun in a very long time. The player also has the chance to spend the night with him, keeping him company as the intoxication slowly wears off

(I think you can convince Cyrus to stay if you go the goblin route, but only if you know about his relationship with Meredith already and threaten him with the fact that he'll never find his way back to her if he leaves the party [DC 20 Intimidation check].)

Act 2 (subquest: The Champion of Iriaebor)

In a long rest cutscene sometime after entering the Shadowlands, while the party is leaving to set up camp, Cyrus is ambushed by an unknown figure who tries to drag him back into the Shadowlands. They cross the barrier of the Shadow Curse, but Cyrus fights them off and crosses back over before the curse can affect him, wounding the assailant in the process and stranding them to succumb to the curse. Despite being injured himself, Cyrus insists on returning to save them, which the player can either permit or discourage (DC 15 persuasion check; succeed, and the information that follows has to be gleaned through Speak with Dead). If Cyrus saves them, it costs him (some unknown mechanical penalty I haven't thought of yet) but allows him and the player to interrogate the attacker.

The attacker reveals herself to be a half-elf from Iriaebor (let's call her Merrill because my default for putting characters in Cyrus' bg3 backstories is to steal from DA2) who watched Cyrus slaughter her parents as Meredith was consolidating power after her initial campaign to reclaim the city from the Zhentarim. Cyrus protests, insisting that he only ever attacked Meredith's enemies, but as Merrill reveals the despotic conditions under which residents beyond the High Tower live, he has to come to terms with her brutality-- a brutality he enabled and participated in.

The player can dismiss Merrill's claims, or try to convince Cyrus that what he did was right and just anyway (deception/persuasion checks respectively), but given the choice of how to respond to this, Cyrus believes Merrill and is disgusted with himself for the blindness of his devotion. Pronouncing this, Cyrus suddenly spasms and clutches his chest, and though he tries to pass off the pain as nothing, the player can discover (if they are themselves a paladin, pass a religion/insight check, or persuade him to explain what happened) that he has broken his oath.

At the next long rest, the player discovers that Cyrus has been visited by the Oathbreaker Knight and is arguing with him, insisting that he still believes in the tenets of his oath, just not who he vested that oath in. The player can suggest he try to substitute his oath to Meredith with an oath to something/someone else, and if the player has high enough approval, Cyrus--desperate in the face of the emptiness in his soul--suggests that he pledge himself to them. The player can either accept this offer, encourage him to commit to their cause of destroying the Absolute, or suggest it might be helpful to sit with his broken oath for a bit before rushing into another vow (DC 25/30 persuasion check depending on approval; if failed, he will pledge himself to protecting Faerun from the Absolute).

While these options map on to his endings, they don't determine them, as the player has the option to push him in a different direction at the end of his Act 3 personal quest.

Act 3 (subquest: The Sworn Sword)

Meredith is a diplomatic guest at Gortash's coronation! If Cyrus isn't in the party, she will approach the PC and demand to know where his, and will later appear in camp. Otherwise, the reunion happens then and there, and (provided he learned everything from Merrill & the player didn't convince him to disregard this) it's as uncomfortable and painful as every other companion-major backstory npc encounter that happens in that chamber is. Cyrus freezes up seeing her again, overwhelmed with rage and disgust when she touches him but not wanting to make a scene and not ready to confront her about everything she did to him/Iriaebor. Indeed, an insight check reveals that mostly what he's feeling is fear.

The player can intervene, though if they're too aggressive about it, a Steel Watcher will step in, and Meredith regards them coolly in any case, reticent to allow Cyrus to stay with the party (especially if he's romanced) and relenting only because Cyrus/the player insists he has to to keep him safe from the parasite.

Beyond the interpersonal stuff, Meredith mentions that she's come to Baldur's Gate to discuss the future of the city's diplomatic relations east of the Sword Coast and expresses admiration for Gortash, and the Steel Watch in particular. Finally, she mentions that the patriar who is hosting her will have a small ball to honor her visit, to which she invites Cyrus though explicitly not the rest of the party. Despite his own discomfort with the idea, when they talk about it in camp afterward, Cyrus suggests he play along and try to learn more about what Meredith is doing here, as she's rarely ever made diplomatic appearances beyond Iriaebor.

Adamant that he not go alone, the party puts together disguises and we get an Upper City masquerade quest! Shenanigans and sleuthing ensue, with chances to discover more about Baldur's Gate's wealthier residents (including the life and death of Duke Stelmane), the Flaming Fist, rumors about Cazador Szarr, gossip about the Stone Lord/Zhentarim/Thieves' Guild etc. The party also has plenty of opportunities to just be Sera-esque pranking shits, subtly disrupting festivities to distract its hosts and guest of honor and give Cyrus some reprieve. If they do all the pranks, the player (whether romanced or not) will even have the chance to lure Meredith away for long enough to dance with Cyrus, which he appreciates immensely. He admits it makes him nervous to have to rely so much on someone, but says the player is much worthier of that trust than Meredith.

As the end of the ball draws near, the party hatches a plan to find Meredith's (previously undiscovered) room by having Cyrus request to retire there for the evening. There, they find correspondence with Gortash revealing that Meredith seeks to replicate the Steel Watch in Iriaebor as part of the Absolute's future campaign against Elturgard. While previously expressing hope that Meredith might change her ways, Cyrus is convinced that she cannot return to Iriaebor and goes to confront her. Combat ensues, with a heavy mechanical focus on Meredith's court mage, Elsiee, trying to use enchantment magic to turn Cyrus against the party.

Like Viconia, Meredith is knocked out automatically, and when Cyrus goes to finish her, she laughs at him, telling him he is still little more than a very pretty sword best wielded in someone else's hands. His divine fury and grief are palpable as he smites her, sobbing, before quickly once more excusing himself from the party (though the player can hug him before he goes).

When all is said and done, the player finds Cyrus reflecting on the docks. Calmer now, he explains that he used to work these docks, a lifetime ago, after being orphaned on the boat back from Evermeet and falling into the dubious care of an orphanage headmaster. Though Cyrus knew he was being taken advantage of, made to look after the children and contracted to the docks as a source of income for the orphanage/headmaster, he never thought of leaving because if someone didn't make that sacrifice, who would?

This leads him to reflect that his issues with devotion might've begun long before meeting Meredith, that there is something about him that might've left him uniquely vulnerable to her, that has made him easy to abuse, and if he had previously sworn himself to the player in Act 2, he expresses doubt now. The player can either encourage that doubt or insist that their circumstances are different. If he had sworn to protect the realm from the Absolute, he'll wonder what he should do after it's defeated, and the player can encourage him to stay in Baldur's Gate to make it better than it was when he was young, return to Iriaebor to finish what they started by killing Meredith, or take some time to figure out for himself who he is without a cause or person to devote himself to. If the choice is left to him, Cyrus opts to return to Iriaebor.

Endings are complicated, because I am not bound by development time restrictions and can do whatever tf I want. They vary both on what Cyrus does post-game and how the player has handled the depth of his devotion, either encouraging him to find another commitment/duty after Meredith or encouraging him to discover what it means to live for himself. Also, I'm just personally not a fan of the good/bad ending dichotomy (even though I obviously think some of these endings are worse than others), so I use the distinction between devoted (I am defined by what I offer others) and undevoted (I am more than what I can offer others).

With one exception...

UNEQUIVOCAL BAD ENDING: Encouraging Cyrus to return with Meredith in his Act 3 personal quest; his equivalent of handing Shadowheart over to Mother Viconia. He leaves the party, though he and Meredith can be summoned as allies in the final stretch of the game. Talking to Cyrus in the tower before beginning the final assault will find him quiet and sullen, with Meredith largely talking on his behalf, and a letter from her at the epilogue party reveals that Cyrus has struggled to return to life in Iriaebor. She ends on an ominous note suggesting that her court mage has been investigating magical means of making him happier there.

Stays in Baldur's Gate, devoted: Cyrus joins the Flaming Fist. His service to the patriars is flawless and unquestioning.

Stays in Baldur's Gate, undevoted: Cyrus joins the Harpers, and while he's still working on the 'discretion' part of spy work, he's fallen in love with the Harpers' dual commitment to the natural world.

Follows the player, devoted: The player, whether romanced or not, has become Cyrus' new object of service, and he goes where they go, whether to the Hells with Karlach and/or Wyll or to assist in the player and Minthara's campaign against Menzoberranzan. A player who romanced ascended!Astarion will even have the option to make Cyrus his spawn too. If the player decides to stay in Baldur's Gate, this ending is distinct from the ending where Cyrus himself decides to stay.

Travels Faerun, undevoted: Cyrus wanders the Sword Coast for a time, visiting everyone after they've gone their separate ways and enjoying his freedom. If the Shadow Curse was lifted, he mentions particularly enjoying Reithwin and seeing the hard work Halsin has put into building it up. Otherwise, he's thinking about helping to rebuild Waukeenan's Rest and provide a safe, cozy outpost for travelers in that area.

Returns to Iriaebor, devoted: Cyrus reclaims his title of Champion of Iriaebor, no longer the right hand of its tyrant but of its people, yet the title continues to weigh on him.

Returns to Iriaebor, undevoted: Working under the existing resistance movement, Cyrus' knowledge helps to quickly dismantle and replace Meredith's loyalists and guards, though he stays out of the spotlight himself. Come the epilogue, he feels confident that six months of hard work have put the city on a better path and that it would be best to leave its future in the hands of others, severing as many ties with Meredith's rule as possible.

In both the Baldur's Gate and the Iriaebor devoted endings, a romanced player will find that Cyrus seems more committed to his duty than to them.

12 (Story). Is it possible for your Tav to be kidnapped and replaced by Orin?  How is Orin's deception revealed?  How do they react to the PC rescuing them in the Temple of Bhaal?

Yes! "Cyrus" becomes convinced that the PC is Orin in disguise and attacks them for the good of the party. "Cyrus" either overpowers the player, realizes his error, and turns his blade on himself, or the player overpowers him, he realizes his error, and insists the player kill him for his mistake, at which point Orin reveals herself.

The first thing Cyrus gasps when he's freed is "Meredith." Realizing who has rescued him, he quickly follows up with an apology, disappointed with himself for being kidnapped and forcing the party to put so much blood and sweat into rescuing him. In the follow up convo in camp, he mentions previously being held hostage by the Zhentarim in the early days of his and Meredith's fight against them. Back then, he had no doubt that she would come to rescue him, but now, the idea of that kind of dependence--of not being enough to keep himself safe--makes him uneasy.

11 (Romance). What are Tav’s plans for the future?  Do they propose to the PC, or is marriage not something they’re interested in?

Devoted to PC: He proposes during the docks scene and follows the PC wherever they go next.

Devoted to city: He proposes in the post-final battle cutscene, declaring that he wants to make Baldur's Gate/Iriaebor their home, if the player will stay with him.

Undevoted: This may be the only version of Cyrus who doesn't want to rush right into marriage. He cares for a romanced PC deeply, of course, but he's just gotten out of an abusive relationship that eroded his sense of self rediscovering that sense is his priority, worrying that running head-first into another deeply committed relationship will make that difficult. In his Act 3 romance scene, he says he's okay with the PC not wanting to wait for him to figure this out, allowing the PC to affirm their willingness to be patient & stick with him. Cyrus is surprised, admitting he's all too used to being the one who has to compromise what he wants in a relationship, and tells the PC how much he loves them.

(And, in fact, the player can propose to him at the epilogue party, and he is overjoyed to say yes)

12 (Romance). Free space! Share anything from your companion!Tav au!

If the PC lets Volo icepick them & gets the ersatz eye, after the interaction with the courier in Act 1, they get a special long rest cutscene where they catch a glimpse of a scrying sensor floating above Cyrus. If they mention this to him, he identifies this as the magic of Meredith's court mage, Elsiee, and though he tries to brush its presence off as Meredith being worried about his safety, he's visibly uncomfortable with the discovery.

[mass-effect-galaxy]

Four Baldur's Gate Tips For Dragon Age Players

I. Get the mods "Native Camera Tweaks" and WASD Character Movement NOW

II. Mages don't need staffs

III. Scrolls are for spell-casters

IV. Don't recruit everyone in every playthrough

I. Get the mods "Native Camera Tweaks" and WASD Character Movement NOW

They change the look and feel of exploration in what you are used to from Dragon Age. You have a proper over-the-shoulder camera and movement as you would expect from a third-person game.

Every time BG3 updates, these mods need to be updated too. And going back to the original camera and controls, even for a short moment, shows what incredible quality of life improvement these mods are. (and how much better Dragon Age is when it comes to controls and cameras).

II. Mages don't need staffs

Different from Dragon Age Origins where certain spells require the usage of a staff or DA2 and DAI where mages couldn't equip anything but staffs, staffs in Baldur's Gate 3 are only for selve-defence. And, of course, any weapon would do the job. So, instead of gluing a giant stick to the back of Gale why not give him a fancy dagger instead?

III. Scrolls are for spell-casters

When going into BG3, I had no real clue about what to do with the scrolls. I took them as some kind of backdoor for combat classes to start using spells and gave them to my warriors and barbarians. However, in the end, I found myself hoarding them without ever using them. The regular attacks of melee classes are as powerful as any spell and proficiency in longbows together with special arrows do the job of an AOR spell quite as well.

Then I realized that these scrolls are supposed to be some kind of backup for mages in case they run out of spell-slots, a concept that doesn't exist in Dragon Age. So, give them to your Gales, Shadowhearts, and Wylls. They need them more than Karlach or Lae'zel do.

IV. Don't recruit everyone in every playthrough

This is probably the most important lesson that millions of abandoned playthroughs in Baldur's Gate 3 have taught me. I always started a new game and after a few hours, I had the impression that I somehow messed up and started a new PT.

The problem always was the companions. While it looks similar to Dragon Age Origins where you travel around with a group that is much larger than your party permits and you have a camp as a central hub to interact, it actually works much differently.

In a game of Dragon Age, it doesn't matter who you bring to which main mission, save for some approval ratings. You evolve the relationship with your companions during your camp/Skyhold talks up to the point where the companion gives you a loyalty mission that you have to do with him to further develop your relationship. All of this does not influence the story missions most of the time.

Not so in Baldur's Gate 3. Here, the characters can only evolve when they are part of your active party because they need to act in, or interact with, the main story. Most notably Shadowheart who is the true protagonist of the story. Act 2 basically is her personal redemption arc - but only when she is present in your party. This applies, to a lesser degree, to all other companions as well: going for the gith without Lae'zel in your party is pointless. Astarion has to be in your party when entering the Temple of Shar and so on.

And that's the point where the "I fucked up"-feeling kicks in. This can be avoided by only recruiting those characters you actually want to have in your party all the time.

If you are planning a "dark side" playthrough stick to Shadowheart, Lae'zel, and Astarion. Since you are planning to side with the Goblins anyway, no point in bothering with Wyll and Karlach. You would also ignore Gale, or chop off his hand for cheers and giggles. Later, let Shadowheart kill Lae'zel and recruit your true love Minthara.

Wyll and Karlach are the most "light side" characters to recruit. So, when that is your path, why bother with the others?

Shadowheart has to be there anyway. So why not just play as her and have one slot free for, say, Gale?

While it might seem odd to seasoned Dragon Age players to leave anyone behind, Baldur's Gate 3 gets much better that way. Just try it out.