#asteria49

[grovyrosegirl]

a question from the fic writing ask prompt:

How did you come up with the idea for In Another Life?

Fic Writer Ask Game:

Great question! Well, after I finished my first playthrough of BG3 and got more into the fandom, I got really into reading fics.

Annnnd because I have a bit of a guilty pleasure for darker stuff, I tended to gravitate towards the Ascended Astarion fics. Hellish Rebuke by @bludazey and Mirror, mirror by @ellekhen are some examples of that good, tragic Vampire Ascendant content that I very much enjoy. (Though mind the trigger warnings! They're great fics, but both deal with topics of sexual abuse, so just be careful of that if you decide to read.)

"Mirror, mirror" especially was a major inspiration for In Another Life, as I loved the premise of "Bad Ending Character kidnaps Good Ending Character and emotional trauma ensues." And while I love our vampire boy, I am first and foremost a Gale girlie, so I wanted to show my favorite wizard some love. And then wouldn't ya know it, Larian came along and dropped the Patch 5 epilogues into our laps, which included God!Gale in all his assholery glory. After watching his dialogue, with both friend and romanced Tav, I knew I had to write something for him.

So my brain went, "Let's make a bad ending fic for God!Gale where he decides to kidnap his ex-lover instead of going to therapy and being normal about their break up" and thus, In Another Life (I Found You) was born.

Fun fact too! IAL was actually meant to be a WAY shorter fic, but as I worked on the first few chapters, not only did I really into the lore I made up about the Planes of Time and Chronos, but I also just loved writing for Dekarios. So I decided to expand it into a longer plot. And now, here we are!

[sankttealeaf]

Idk if it has been asked yet, but #1 from the Durgetash creators ask

Your hottest Durgetash take. The kinda heat Gortash had to endure in HoH.

thanks !!!! answering THESE durgetash asks

1. Your hottest Durgetash take. The kinda heat Gortash had to endure in HoH. (But be respectful about it fellas, this means everyone)

oooo i dont think i have a hot durgetash take thats super hot but...

all durgetash is good durgetash is my only big opinion but thats because i love how varied the ship can be!!!

i love exploring all kinds of vibes and emotions with them and there is no "right" way to view them! i love default durge, i love custom durge, i love romantic and platonic and pure mortal enemies durgetash!!!

[adorablebanite]

OC Deep Dive Questions

Thank you @hippotooth for the tag, and giving me more excuses to blab about my dumb girl!

I'd love to tag some folks, should they wish to partake (if they haven't already!) @newtia @beecreeper @obuoliukai @melvinthedepressedrobot @ennissg @sankttealeaf @forged-by-fire @forlornghosts @walkerdraws @lizziemajestic @archduchessgortash @archduchessgabrielle @elinorbard @sunflowergem @threeofswrds @arianiziolek @defira85 @lillietea @kawareo @toobisa @kaava @asteria49 @demong @aurorawintersnight @archduke-enver-gortash (I'm sorry if I missed anyone! I'd love to see EVERYONE'S response, if possible!

(I realize Tumblr doesn't let me tag more than a handful of people but i'm stubborn and will do it in the replies, lmao)

Questions/Answers for my beloved OC ~Lilla~ under the cut

Warning - she's literally just a "made in a lab for gortash" trope, so enjoy extreme self-indulgence!

What common/uncommon fear do they have?

I don't know if there's much in the way of common when it comes to BG3, but I suppose Lilla's actually fairly brave! She's a Banite after all - though it took some getting there. Honestly her worst fear is getting "fired" by the boss - but that's a given. Lady Orin actually terrifies her, and maybe Balthazar a bit, as well (he's just mostly stinky and smug, though.)

Do they have any pet peeves?

You'll be sick of hearing this already, but given Lilla's nature, her biggest pet peeve is when people don't cooperate with Gortash 😅

Honestly just general incompetence - her standards rival the Chosen's, which are basically impossible, so good luck!

What are 3 items you can find in their bedroom?

An emerald silk bathrobe, an alchemy station stocked to the brim with all the good stuff, and a small library nook!

What do they notice first in a person?

Visually not much (unless she's attracted to them, in which case she's just like the rest of us and looks respectively, or otherwise 😉).

Believe it or not, she doesn't judge much based on looks; she's learned from the boss that every person has the potential to offer some skill or opportunity that could benefit the Banites and their chosen - so she's always looking to see what she can exploit or harness from someone, and to see if she can delegate their skills to Gortash's cause.

On a scale from 1-10, how high is their pain tolerance?

Pretty high up there- gonna say at least an 8, but she's cheating because she was kind of intentionally 'made' that way. Once she got a pommel from a greatsword straight to the cheekbone during a tournament and she just kind of smiled bloody at the dude which freaked him the fuck out because she's so small and un-phased.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure?

Depends on the pressure! She's survived/won a battle royal against some really grizzled Banites - though it may have mostly been luck -but it helped shape her ability to respond to fear fairly well! Again, the whole 'Banite blood' thing helps a lot!

She did have a massive panic attack when she thought her worst fear (see first question) was realized, which sent her into quite a state - so that would be the closes to fleeing she's ever gotten, really.

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person?

If by "family" you mean "secret Banite sect at the outskirts of Calimport," then yes she comes from a fairly big family, but she doesn't remember them, since they erased her memory when she was five and gave her to an Ilmater orphanage (long story - sounds weird - it is). Not really a family person, but could be, if her path took a different turn! She's quite nurturing considering all things (Which may have been a point of contention with Bane, but she ultimately proved herself, eventually).

What animal represents them best?

This is such a hard question...I never considered. Hmm what could be considered regal and unhinged in the same stroke? Maybe I'll say Owl - because it's the symbol of knowledge, and she's a knowledge domain cleric? Also she can be fairly deadly if you let your guard down around her 😊 Also she doesn't shut up sometimes.

What is a smell they dislike?

Balthazar.

Have they broken any bones?

As mentioned before, she had her face smashed with a really heavy weapon. Would you be interested in a smol excerpt? (You get it regardless 😅 (as usual warning: amateur writing)

How would a stranger likely describe them?

Very prim, proper, and polite! Quite sweet as well! Unless you've said something uncouth about Lord Gortash (It is recommended to not do that around her).

Are they a night owl, or morning bird?

She's extremely gort-coded, so whatever he wants (so both)

What’s a flavor they hate and a flavor they love?

Plump red berries are her favourite for reasons only the readers of AFI know :p. I don't know what she doesn't like! Maybe dirty/muddy meat and potatoes, which also only AFI readers will know why ^_^

Do they have any hobbies?

lol. lmao.

Alchemy I guess xD. Basically studying anything that makes her more competent/useful at her job.

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprise?

I think at first she'd think it was a waste of time, but she wouldn't admit that she loves it (and the attention).

Do they like to wear jewelery?

Yes! A black suede collar with a Banite charm! She switches it for an Ilmater charm when in public though >.>

Do they have neat or messy handwriting?

Very neat, very succinct, very efficient. Transcribing was the very first reason Gortash hired her - especially because she's able to use her Mage Hand to write (ie in unseen places for what may or may not be for spying purposes).

What are the two emotions they feel the most?

This is so lame and cringe but just general catharsis for fulfilling her purpose. It's a perk of the whole "made in a lab" trope. For a being conceived during a silly Banite ritual designed to make the perfect servant for Bane's chosen (whoever it should be at the time), she actually feels a great deal of love -it's up to individual philosophy if it's organic/genuine, or preprogrammed.

Do they have a favourite fabric?

Emerald silk ^_^

What kind of accent do they have?

An English one, I dunno man. She grew up in an orphanage, but was taught by Ilmater nurses/clerics, so she sounds like a fancy lil bitch.

[fogsblue]

Kotaloy Celebration Week - Day 4

🏹 Wild ~ Dangerous ~ Feral 🏹

🧡 ART 🧡

Day 4 FERAL by @astralpaint

Day 4: "Feral" by @i-lavabean

"Wild/Dangerous/Feral". by @hannahmationstudios

Day 4 ~ Dangerous by @fantasy-girl974

💚 FICS💚

The Most Dangerous Thing (M) by Asteria49 Kotallo is faced with the most dangerous thing in his world, and it is no machine, no super-AI.

Kotallo versus the Goose (E) by @fogsblue The first time Aloy brought an injured animal into the base, Kotallo hadn’t thought much of it. And then Aloy brought back a goose.

Rude (E) by @pikapeppa jumbled together the SFW and NSFW prompts for today (wild/dangerous/feral, ravenous/desperate/“I can’t get enough of you”) takes place between Chapter 52 and 53 of Becoming Whole

Do Not Touch (T) by TheArtseeWinks The GAIA Gang are headed down to gather the Nora delegation from their camp for the Embassy. Unexpectedly, the Marshal ends up going down. Aloy is upset by this.

She Is Robed In Fire (T) by @poulticepurse And like a moth to a flame, she is irresistible and inevitable.

The Bulwark (E) by @destinysembrace-oblivion Kotallo is impressed with Aloy's stealth and martial prowess. They bring down the Bulwark. Aloy helps Kotallo rub it further into Tekotteh's face.

Phoenix (T) by @kotaloy Kotallo lies mortally wounded, at the brink of the abyss. He’ll fall soon. But Aloy is here and more alive than he has ever been.

The Beast of the Base (G) by @beyondbendingsky Aloy made it back to the Base during the night. Everyone is asleep, except for a strange creature she has never seen before.

Ghosts of the West (M) by @grexigone Kotallo and Aloy ventured out together to solve mysterious murders across the Tenakth lands. A mission that will require them to not only face their feelings but also resolve long overdue businesses. Alternating POV between Kotallo and Aloy.

Masterlist || Ao3 Collection

[asteria49]

Pairing: Named Dark Urge/Enver Gortash Excerpt from the fic:

Some of the guests gasped, others inhaled sharply. Some shifted their weight uncomfortably, averting their gazes. A few of the more delicately constituted folks brought their handkerchiefs to their noses to ward against the stench. The guest of honor, the illustrious smuggler, squirmed in his seat at the sight of her. Only one amongst the attendees remained unfazed, a man with tousled dark hair, elegant but unadorned silks, and a simple silver mask - the mask of Bane.  The Child of None snorted disdainfully. The cult of Bane had fallen out of favor within Baldur’s Gate long ago. They were a narcissistic bunch, arrogant and reckless. They believed their tyranny rendered them untouchable, but blades and garrotes could not be warded against by cruelty and power. The same could be said of this little Banite: flaunting his dread god’s sigil so blatantly, meeting the gaze of murder incarnate from across the crowded room, without so much as a flinch. This must have been the rival her Father had spoken of. He wasn’t much of a concern – a plain, simple arms dealer whose apparel was so starkly lacking that he stuck out of the crowd like a sore thumb. He was inconsequential. A calf masking itself as a wolf. She would eat him alive. 

[asteria49]

Chapter 1: A Sight for Sore Eyes Pairing: Named Dark Urge/Enver Gortash Notes: This is a soft Durgetash fic. There are some important CWs for this fic. Please read the tags.

Preview

“Esteemed friends and patriars of this fine city,” Gortash addressed the court for the first time as archduke, though his gaze never left Lithariya, “I do not take this appointment, nor your trust in me, lightly. The Steel Watch stands at the ready to defend this great city and her interests. Let any who wish to diminish us know the taste of iron and blood. And let all who would see us thrive know the bountiful fruits that come when you stand by my side.”  The crowd murmured their appeasement, heads nodding, delicate, ringed fingers clapping, but Gortash did not care about their reactions. He was watching her, gauging her reaction, modifying formulas and performing calculations based upon the angle of her lips, the creases in her forehead, and the arch of her brows.  “Meet me in my office after the ceremony,” he whispered as he passed her, his gilded hand brushing against hers.  Her stomach twisted into a knot as her fingers involuntarily craned to meet his, skimming along the harsh, cold metal until they found the familiar heat of his skin, desperate for even the most modest offering.  His eyes widened by just a fraction before his lips curled into a sensuous smile. “Alone,” he added. “We have much to discuss.”   Lithariya’s breath lodged in her throat. Her fingertips tingled with anticipation. Her body had betrayed her a hundred times over and she knew it would do so a thousand times more. She could not deny the connection she felt with him– a thread tugging at her ring finger and winding around their bodies, pulling them closer until they would, at last, be flush against one another. 

[fogsblue]

Kotaloy Celebration Week - Day 3

🏹 Opposites attract ~ fire/ice ~ sun/moon ~ heaven/hell 🏹

💗 ART 💗

favorite opposites is ski and snowboard by @alexadark13

Day 3 Sun and Moon/ Fire and Ice by @astralpaint

Opposite Attracts ~ Ocean & Fire by @beyondbendingsky

Opposites Attract - Angel & Devil by @picksleydust

Day 3: Sun and Moon by @i-lavabean

Day 3 - Sun & Moon by @fantasy-girl974

💙 FICS 💙

Where I am the Moon (M) by Asteria49 Two celestial bodies locked in an unending cycle, an abstraction, a poem, a confession between Kotallo and Aloy

In our darkest hours (G) by @murmeringwhisper The one with the moon and the sun.

Eclipse (T) by @koteevna People have forgotten that the Moon and the Sun are one. The Eclipse helps them remember.

Earth and Sky (G) by TheArtseeWinks He was born in the clan of the sky in the West. She was made inside the earth in the East.

The Angel and her Devil (M) by @destinysembrace-oblivion Aloy is on a heavenly mission from GAIA to protect humanity and the biosphere. Kotallo is a devil with a conscience, and he doesn't want to interfere with Aloy's plans.

The Champion and her Marshal (E) by @garbage-dono Fire & Ice (SFW)

Masterlist || Ao3 Collection

[asteria49]

Chapter 3: Nevermore Pairing: Named Dark Urge/Enver Gortash Notes: This chapter has important CWs; please read tags and ch summaries

Preview

Gortash scowled as he gritted his teeth. That familiar, all-consuming rage ignited in his chest, heating the simmering pit of tar in his heart to a rolling boil. He was always at the mercy of someone with more power than he.  Not for long, he promised himself. Soon Faerûn would be at his and Lithariya’s mercy and he was not feeling particularly magnanimous.  Gortash rolled up his sleeves then set himself to soaking the cloths in the icy water.  He fantasized what he might do once he and Lithariya had garnered enough power to challenge the Dead Three. He imagined what he might say to Bane when, at last, the Lord of Tyranny was brought to his knees. He imagined what Lithariya might say to Bhaal when she finally severed the strings that bound her to him. He imagined their gods groveling at their feet, begging for leniency, weaving a flimsy tapestry of manipulation in a last effort to retain control. He imagined those machinations falling upon unsympathetic ears. And he imagined what he and Lithariya might finally do, what they might accomplish, hand-in-hand, as equals, as gods.    It was these tyrannical thoughts that comforted him as he tended to Lithariya, wringing the excess water from the chilled cloths before gently laying them across her forehead, her neck, her chest.  Another hour had passed before Lithariya’s head lolled to the side and her eyelashes fluttered.  Gortash perked up from his slouch at her side. “Lithariya?” Her name still felt like a prayer on his tongue, like reciting his own private supplication as part of a forbidden religion.