#but I got to hug my bestie Shadowheart

[crowetesque]

Hey we can smooch Astarion again, gang

[eff-plays]

I'm in the middle of Act 2 and here's my opinion of all the companions so far.

Lae'zel: I didn't like her at all first, but then she told me she loved how I stink and I realized she's just an angry little guy. She's so pissed at all times and I like how she hisses at me. Girl you are fucked up. 10/10, will romance her at some point.

Shadowheart: Ngl she was a little bland but very easy to get approval with so she was my bestie early on. Now that she's revealed her religious trauma I think she's a poor little meow meow. She should be a tumblr sexyman. 10/10, will romance her at some point.

Astarion: Went in hating his ass thinking he was overhyped. Got brainwashed quickly by the horny voice and the laugh lines. Hated him again when he kept being a little bitch. Hugged him oh so tenderly. He likes it when I tell people to kill themselves. 10/10, will romance him again.

Gale: Was considering romancing him until the ex reveal. Big turnoff for insecure bitches (me). Act 2 started and I got interested again because of the angst. He's funny and his dialogue is the best written/wittiest out of all the companions. Accidentally led him on. 10/10, will romance him at some point.

Wyll: Thought he was a bit bland at first ngl. Very standard backstory. Probably the best-looking companion out of all of them. Got extremely easy approval with him despite not bringing him around often. Then I realized he's charmingly silly but deeply genuine with his heroic aspirations. 10/10, wyll romance him at some point.

Karlach: Best girl, no contest. Loved her from the start. Big, fun, funny, good heart, and boy she can do a LOT of damage on the battlefield. Absolutely waifu material. Touchstarved and gorgeous? I'm straight but she could get it type shit. I want her to split me in half with a single pelvic thrust. 10/10, will romance her at some point.

Halsin: Liked him from the start. He's fucking massive. My Tav looked at him with lovesick puppy eyes in every early custcene so I was considering romancing him in the beginning, but he's way too nice for them lmao. No notes, he's literally just a giant teddy bear of a man and I love him. 10/10, will romance him at some point.

All in all it's pretty impressive how Larian got jackpot on all of these little freaks. I can't say I dislike any of them.

[dredgelord]

Hello! I would gladly request something with the female characters, they absolutely need more love. Could I request Shadowheart x (preferably fem! or gn!) Tav and the reverse comfort trope. Also if Tav could be a tiefling cleric it would be great, because my best girl who’s romancing Shadowheart is a cleric of Kelemvor and I love their dynamic. She’s my favorite to romance, I want to give her a hug and comfort her after everything that happens. Sorry if this is very vague, feel free to ignore this if it doesn’t inspire you <33

Hi gorgeous! Thank you so much for submitting this. I had to google "reverse comfort" so, I hope that I understood this properly! Please feel free to re-send if not. I decided to do headcanons rather than a drabble as it's not reaaally too much for me to go off on, but don't worry, you did great! Would love to hear more about your Tav.

Props to you for romancing Shart because she hates my guts no matter how I've played so far. But hey, she has standards;;;...

Tav (female, Tiefling, cleric) x Shadowheart

✩ Shadowheart initially wasn't keen on the whole "being comforted" or being close to others in general, until she got to know you a bit more.

✩ It took some time to get used to her standoffishness, but you had the sense to respect her personal space for the most part. That's what Shadowheart liked about you, she liked how you didn't push and pry into her life. Still, you were typically the one to initiate conversations, and you'd always at least offer her to hang out, even if she declined. She wouldn't tell you at first, but she appreciated how you'd always give her those invitations.

✩ Eventually and with time, you and Shadowheart bonded over wine, your mutual clerical abilities, and short walks after a long day. You being a Cleric of Kelemvor, she found it easy to discuss her Shar worship with you without fear of judgement. Of course, there were disagreements here and there, but your relationship was founded on trust and mutual respect.

✩ Shadowheart struggled frequently and despite being as tough as she is, she held in so much before meeting you. Despite everything that's happened, she didn't notice that she was always going to you whenever she had a problem. Needed to vent? She asks you if you're in the mood to lend an ear (which you most often happily are), and you allow her to vent out her frustrations as she becomes progressively more inebriated, until she slurs her words, making you laugh; suddenly the both of you are hysterically laughing over nothing. These moments were always some of the sweetest.

✩ Whenever Shadowheart drinks - and whether or not you're up for joining her - it feels like a really fun sleepover between best friends. Alcohol helps her to relax a little bit, easing up some of her anxieties. When you jokingly call her "bestie", she takes that to heart and it makes her feel...whole.

✩ Over time as the two of you become closer, you learn that touch is a strong love language of hers. At first you might think she's just being friendly but she's somehow always trying to be close to you. The first time you give her a hug, you might feel like it's unwanted, until she assures you that it was...actually pretty nice.

✩ Shadowheart doesn't really give you any mixed signals. You know that she loves when you hug her, because she told you she does. You're fully aware that she likes when your hands "accidentally" brush against the other, because she jokingly comments, "What, rather hold your weapon, than my hand?"

✩ Eventually, she drinks less frequently as she no longer needs to rely on it to cope with her struggles. She finds more comfort in simply being around you. She trusts you'll take care of her (though she would never admit she enjoys the thought), and vows to do the same for you in return.

✩ This might sound cheesy, but her love for you shows the most in her eyes - the looks she gives you. The way she looks at you. If you're the more oblivious type, not to worry. Everyone else in your party can see it.

[invinciblerodent]

I've got to say, even beyond the very sweet, romantic things going on in the epilogue, this has got to be the part that made me most emotional so far.

I already love that they don't have the dwarf be the one to awkwardly smush his face into the others' chests and it's all the other characters who drop to their knees without hesitation instead, but also that Shadowheart specifically says that her friend feels "more substantial" now.

Like, for one, it's a sweet thing for her to say that stays true to her teasing ways, but it also confirms my little headcanon that by the time act 3 rolled around they weren't just friends, but The Kind Of Friends Who Hug Regularly.

(the new headcanon I hold is that she didn't only go to Waterdeep for the Selunite cloister, it just... made the most sense for her to go there, and stay with her bestie and his husband-to-be. Temporarily, at least until she figured out what comes next.)

(I refuse to believe they last saw each other half a year ago- no, this girl was whatever the Waterdhavian equivalent of a maid of honor is at their wedding, and they saw her for dinner like two tendays ago.)

[amethysts-tavern]

It’s over (my first full play-thru). Pre-patch 5.

Finished my first run-thru on my second character, bard Amily Starsong (pictured). The first character got bugged bad after the latest patch.

Spoilers below the fold.

OMG that end battle literally took me 4 hours. So many feels. I’m gonna be not right for awhile.

The scene in High Hall when your allies are there telling you that you did a great job and they are ready to fight with you?!? Lost it. Like had to pause the game so I could wipe my eyes. I love them. All of them! Rolan and Zevlor and Dammon! And Nine-Fingers Keene and Dame Aylin and Isobel. Florrick and Ravengard. All the Harpers, Fists, Gur, and Watch. The Strange Ox!! And my little baby boy owlbear! I fight for them, I live for them.

I’ll soon be Mrs. Amily Starsong Dekarios, bard for hire. Maybe I’ll get a job at the Yawning Portal when we get to Waterdeep. A lot of the convo between me and Gale at the end was super sweet. I do feel that once the brain is dead, I would have jumped right into Gale’s arms. I mean, we were standing right next to each other (per usual).

My brain fight was interesting. It ended up being just The Emperor and Gale in the portal for like 2 turns before I could get in there and take it down with a level 6 dissonant whisper. Zevlor didn’t make it and it kills me that he died fighting for us. He fought til the end though!

Thoughts on the epilogue:

- Astarion gets done dirty. He’s done so much to grow as a person they should have given him something a little less harsh. Maybe let Tav chase him into a tavern or something.

- I have no idea what happens to Shadowheart. She was barely even there. No final words at all.

- Karlach dying was worse than I expected. I wanted to hit her with an ice spell or take a potion of fire resistance so I could hold her as she died. She’s my bestie. She deserved so much better.

- I mean hell, I even got Lae’zel to stay with me. And she doesn’t even like me that much!

- If you’re romancing Gale, the whole game should end with a kiss or at least a hug or hell even holding hands.

- The bonus scene with Withers after the credits was a pleasant surprise.

[junietuesday]

one thing i REALLY want from bg3 is the ability to hug my friends more often. im so glad we got to hug shadowheart after her parents and i want that for every character. like ok i get that some characters might not like being hugged but i at least want to ask astarion if he would be ok being hugged after killing cazador, esp as his friend. i want to offer to hug lae’zel after her heart of stone monologue (which she would probably say no but like we’re besties by then so i feel like it wouldnt be out of place to offer). i want to hug karlach after killing gortash. i want to hug gale after the act 2 magic sky scene. and for characters like karlach and gale and halsin who actively say they like being hugged in the epilogue, i really really want to just be able to hug them anytime. like the kisses you can just say “can we hug” and like literally hug them All the time. like maybe have it be a thing after you hit high approval and get at a certain point in their storylines, like after you fix karlach’s heart, after the act 2 gale scene, after removing the shadow curse, and then you get the option to just hug them whenever. please i want to show affection to my friends😭😭😭

[avionvadion]

Kai'mana has finally gotten some decent camp clothes! The drow clothing looks super good on her with her scales, honestly. Astarion got the armor, Kai'mana got the clothing, lol.

Mostly just screenshots of my Dark Urge Kai'mana being pretty, but there are ASTARION ROMANCE SPOILERS below.

This is my second playthrough (because I lack self-restraint) so there are mentions of things that are revealed in Act Two.

ASTARION, PLEASE. XD

BABY. FEATHER BABY.

PROTECC

SHE GETS TO CARRY HIM!???? I LOVE IT.

I guess Dragonborn do count as the "buff" body type...

I can't actually believe they had the Dragonborn smooch. With their snouts, I figured Dragonborn would kinda... nuzzle or bump noses??? Something really affectionate and cute. Anyways, that's my headcanon. Astarion can place kisses to her snout, but she'd nuzzle his hair or something.

I do wish there was a way to trigger the romance without having to sleep with him, though. Especially since he later clearly expresses in Act Two that he's sex-repulsed/demisexual.

It's so interesting romancing Astarion from the beginning again, because you can tell when he's being genuine and putting on an act. And it's so sad. I want to give him all the hugs.

SHE'S. SO. FREAKING. PRETTY. LOOK AT HER SCALES. GORGEOUS. I LOVE HER SO MUCH. AHHHHHHHHHHH. HAVE YOU SEEN A PRETTIER DRAGONBORN DRUID???

Just... another screenshot of Kai'mana being ridiculously gorgeous, don't mind me. Also, I like that Volo was nice enough to replace her eye with a matching pink one- even though it's not necessarily identical, since the sclera of the fake one is white whereas the iris of her real eye takes up the whole space.

Gods, you're really pretty too. Even though I know the truth. T_T

NEW ARMOR. DYED.

She looks so badass. :3

I thoroughly enjoy how different her scales look in the different lightings. Sometimes they're the usual, sometimes they look purple with blue accents, sometimes they're black with blue accents- it's so fun. Really adds to the mystique, me thinks, and the charm.

I love this silly man so much.

Imagining Kai'mana and Astra (my Tav) in the same playthrough is so fun. But also I feel like if they both existed Kai'mana would actually be paired with Gale, since I love Astra with Astarion too much. That said, Kai'mana would still have that little thing with Shadowheart in the beginning because of how much they just click and get along, before realizing they're better off as besties.

Astra is the brains, Kai'mana is the brawn- Astra knows better than to have people poking her eyeballs, Kai'mana is like, "Y'know what? Couldn't hurt to try" and can now see invisible, lol.

And Astra would make sure BARD BESTIE IS SAFE.

Anyways, this is Astra for those who don't know. :3

Yes, I'm obsessed with the color blue. T_T

Her full name is Astra Tav'aria Duskraalis! Tav'aria is the pseudonym she uses for her works, as she is a Sorcerer Bard, while Duskraalis is her Drow surname. Her mother was a Wood Elf, while her father was Seldarine Drow.

[mod2amaryllis]

just beat bg3 and

???????? BRO...... COME ON......

ok, listen, look, ok, look. wyll and karlach going off to avernus was badass if you were rolling with them. but i was not rolling with them. i didn't read the options clearly enough i guess, i didn't wanna also go to avernus, MEANWHILE MY ACTUAL ROADDOGS GOT WHAT THE FUCK EVER ENDINGS???

Lae'zel's i actually liked. i sent her off on a dragon to liberate her people, that felt totally in line with the way I'd been rping this whole time, that felt good.

BUT THEN THEY DID MY POOR FUCKING BESTIE ASTARION LIKE THAT. COME THE FUCK ON. he runs off in miserable defeated agony from the sun and i don't even get the option to go after him??? to comfort him???? i love karlach too but that's my fucking BOY, we murdered his abuser together i'm giving his ass a HUG??? I'm visiting him in the underdark I'm there for him come! ON!!!!!

gale just like haha whatever the fuck My chum! as usual 🙄

but worst absolute worst worst worst most unforgivable of all. because i accidentally went with wyll and karlach who, again, i almost never had in my party...

..... THERE WAS NOTHING. NOTHING. WITH SHADOWHEART. MY LITERAL GIRLFRIEND. NOT ONE LINE OF DIALOGUE.

if i wanna play out that ending different I'll have to do the whole final fight again because the save resets right beforehand. if i wanna see crawler and shadowheart have idk? a word??? with each other?? I'll have to UGHHHHHHH

the good part of this is now i know for sure that in subsequent playthroughs.. I'm not gonna sweat beating the whole game. just finishing their character quests is PLENTY.

[introvertfox]

Thought Shadowheart's hair in the card was a visual bug on my end for the past week... Idk why I didn't realise it might be part of her lore... Anyway my favourite reactions are from Astarion (resident narcissist) and Lae'zel (critical miss on perception )

Also I chose the line that went like "Whatever you chose, I support you" in response to her new hairstyle

— I told my brother of this and he said I have negative rizz for not choosing the "I love it" option. "SHE HAD A PERFECT OPENING FOR YOU DENSE MF" And for shutting Gale and Wyll down early on; " 'So thou walketh alone' YOU DID THAT TO YOURSELF" Damn ok

Still, I have exceptional approval from everyone EVERYONE except for the one bastard I want to romance... Yet I have no romance scenes from any of the girlies; I mean, I got to hug Karlach and am besties with Shadowheart, but Lae'zel has yet to say she wants to lick my sweat (from what I've heard)