I was wondering if you had any Lee!Astarion headcanons? The man deserves love and laughter 😭
A/N: He does, so I gave these a try. I mainly listened/watched a lot of Neil Newbon's streams to help with these so I hope they're in character for Astarion.
Lee!Astarion Tickle Headcanons
“You’re staring at me again. What do you want?”
Astarion is initially guarded when it comes to being tickled; it’s one thing when he’s the one doling them out, it’s another thing for him to be vulnerable and giggly with someone else.
He didn’t have any of those softer moments for nearly two centuries. So, the prospect of being tickled was pushed far out of his mind.
Asking him if he’s ticklish in the earlier parts of the adventure will only have him scoffing and rolling his eyes. “There’s a tadpole swimming in our skulls, and you’re asking me that? Your timing is impeccable.”
If he becomes more comfortable around someone and he’s asked the same question, he’s a bit less guarded, but he still deflects the question. He may even offer a flirty response if the asker is someone he likes. “You know, If you’re so eager to touch me, all you have to do is ask, darling.”
The truth is that Astarion isn’t sure if he’s ticklish or not. It’s easier to deflect or say that he isn’t instead of admitting to something that could be used against him.
It’ll take some time for him to be open to the idea of being tickled, so surprise attacks don’t initially go over well with him. He’ll get snappy and slap the offending hand away.
As a friendship and/or a romantic partnership is established, when Astarion trusts you, he slowly opens up to the idea. He’d never tell a living soul, or an undead one for that matter, but he secretly enjoys it.
The initial experiences he had with tickling involved him sitting up, hands free, allowing his ‘ler to gradually introduce him to it. He gritted his teeth, suppressing much of his laughter, but it didn’t last too long. Astarion is very ticklish.
His laugh is normally practiced: light, musical, and charming. His genuine laugh ranges from manic giggles or loud cackles. Still adorable, but he gets flustered if it’s pointed out.
Astarion covers his face or torso more than wrestling with his ‘ler’s hands. It doesn’t do much to ward off the ticklish sensations, and unconsciously gives the notion that maybe he doesn’t mind it. He’ll deny it backwards and forwards if someone calls it out.
In truth, laughing himself silly can be cathartic for him. He feels safe and lighter and is able to explore a more innocent intimacy without feeling guilty or uncomfortable.
Astarion’s a super teasy ‘ler himself, but being on the receiving end of teases is a novel experience for him. And they’re met with snippy retorts or lighthearted threats or insults, ranging from “I’m gohohoing to fuhucking kihill youhu” or “juhuhust wahahait until I geheht my hahahnds on youhu”.
He’s ticklish everywhere but is especially ticklish on his underarms, hips, and ears.
Sometimes he hiccups or coughs if he’s laughing hard enough. And if he isn’t covering his face, his fangs are on full display.
When he’s more comfortable with his companions, playful tickle attacks aren’t met with as much of a bite. Squeezing his sides while he’s not paying attention will earn his ‘ler a squealing “AAAHAHA”, and revenge will be swift. “Think you’re funny, do you? Come here!”
He also appreciates gentle, almost massage-like tickles from a partner every now and again. Tickles where he doesn’t immediately jump away and maybe even lean into them a bit. Sneaking in kisses will elicit gentle smiles and sighs. “I do rather like that, you know. The massage, I mean. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind doing it again for me, hm?”
Something so cute I love about Astarion's kisses is that they perfectly hit the vibe of someone super brand new but EXCITED to being in love. Like the leaning-in just a bit too far into the kiss as he cradles your face and the way he eagerly grabs your butt sometimes just for kisses? It's giving terminal giddy lovesick idiot sweetheart baby disease. Bitch you are a 200 year old vampire how dare you.
“You have bonded with Astarion, body and soul. His scent lingers on your skin.” That line. Gods. Pure goosebumps. To know that other companions can smell Astarion’s scent on Tav/Durge’s skin is just so… so profoundly sensual. So evocative. So intimate. Halsin says it during the time when Astarion and Tav/Durge weren’t having sex, but that line implies that even without lovemaking they couldn't keep their hands off each other.
Something I love about confronting Cazador is how he obviously never processes that Astarion has friends until it's too late.
Petras and Dalyria must have mentioned that Astarion wasn't alone when they met him, but when you read Cazador's journal? He's 100% fixated on Astarion. How Astarion stood in the sun, how Astarion was willing and able to disobey him. And when Astarion shows up, Cazador barely acknowledges the party at all - and sure, that's partly because this is Astarion's moment in the narrative, but Cazador doesn't so much as ask why these random strangers are there! They're not part of his plans, so they don't exist.
And then they immediately save his errant spawn from the ritual and start beating his ass.
Just. What must have been going through Cazador's head when that fight starting turning against him? 'Is that... the Blade of Frontiers? Why is a monster hunter - and is that a cleric? - helping a vampire spawn? An undead? Ah, but they must be treating it as a necessary evil to have a chance to slay me, of course - hold on, why is the cleric healing Astarion? Why does that wizard keep Counterspelling everything I'm casting at Astarion, why waste the spells when I'm not even targeting him? Did... did that druid just cast Daylight on Astarion's weapons? And that brute of a tiefling - that's not just disgust in her eye when she looks at me, it's fury - and she keeps putting herself in front of Astarion, why in the hells would she - she's running right at me- '
I hope that one of the last things Cazador ever knew was the choking realisation that Astarion didn't just come back strong, or free. Astarion came back loved.
I disappeared for a while, right? Mostly because of work and vacations and such and such—— but its all over，now I'm back and picking up my brushes again!
I seriously need to know what he was doing on set everyday to have these notes the script and be told to tone it down. Astarion would have been a porn star if Neil has it his way.
astarion is so cold during the winter months that he clings to his warm-blooded tav like a snake sunning on a warm rock.
and when tav is burning in the heat of the summer they go lay on him (or, alternatively, have him lay on top of them) because he’s like an oversized ice pack.
