Modern AU Lae'zel would be a ballerina, in this essay i will
bonus doodles of ice skater Shart being very heterosexual about this rivalry (their gyms are in the same building and they have to share lockers, obviously)
Astarion has the idea to have a cleric perform Ceremony on him and Tav. For battle purposes, of course.
Tav really couldn’t believe she stood at City Hall, spending what very well could be her final day in this realm, waiting in a line for two hours.
The waiting in a line was actually the less surprising part. The fact Astarion stood next to her, well that was really something.
It had been his idea, most of the more outlandish were his.
After defeating Cazador, visiting his grave, and having a certainly lovely evening, she thought the surprises with him would be finished. But when he came to her late at night on her watch with two glasses and some wine, she couldn’t have guessed what would come out of his mouth.
“We should be wed.” He said, so casually, nearly making her choke on her wine.
“Pardon?” She muttered out. Certainly, she heard him wrong.
“I think we should be married. Tomorrow.” He said simply. When she only stared back, he started up again. “Is that too soon? We can go day after tomorrow, if you would like to have one last hurrah as a single woman.”
“Astarion…” She forced a nervous laugh out. “You’re very funny.”
“Well, thank you, darling, but I am not trying to be.” He smirked.
“I know you are older but you must know just because you say you love someone doesn’t mean you need to marry them the next day.” She explained. “Trust me, you do not need to worry about my…honor or anything like that—”
“No, no, that is perfectly disturbed already, my love.” He took her hand. “I’m afraid I just want to marry you. And I do think it makes sense.”
She couldn’t help just laugh a bit. “Oh, yes? Just how does it ‘make sense?’”
He sighed out. “If we have a cleric perform Ceremony, it will aid us in battle against the Brain. I think everyone should couple up. It works out best for us since we are already coupled.”
Ah yes, she thought. An aid in battle. Of course. Her heart unceremoniously fell in her chest. What had she been thinking anyway? It was silly to think they were ready for this step for real. She hadn’t even wanted that.
Right?
“It is a bit much, don’t you think?” She questioned. “Never mind the fact that no one will agree to it.”
“Let’s just start with you agreeing.”
--
She thought back to that memory of two days ago as they approached the head of the line. A dwarf couple was unionizing in front of them, tears in their eyes. They were young, and Tav thought perhaps too young.
But something about the way their smiles shined so brightly at each other and their hands gripped on to one another like it was the only thing holding them to the ground made her heart swell. It was beautiful. She had been to numerous unions and never felt the kind of warmth their display put into her.
“Astarion…” She said suddenly. “We can’t do this.”
“Darling, we just waited in this line nearly all day—”
“No, I can’t do it.” She muttered out. “This is…special. This is special to me, I think. I don’t want to just have a cleric marry us for an advantage in battle.” She looked in his eyes now, forcing the contact even if she felt embarrassed. “I want to be married because you want to marry me.”
Astarion was uncharacteristically quiet and Tav wanted him swallow deeply. “Darling, I—”
“And I know that isn’t where we are, so we just shouldn’t—”
“Will you marry me?” He blurted out. “I…I want to marry you.”
“The battle advantage is not worth—”
“No, no.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m afraid that was another one of my fronts.” He made an annoyed noise, but Tav knew it was more at himself than her. “I have been thinking about…about the final battle and about how we are very likely not making it out in one piece. And I remembered when I was in the Ritual, before you all got me out, and how I thought about so many things and one thought that replayed over and over was that I—” He stopped and swallowed again. “Was that I was not going to die married to you. And it—felt wrong.”
Tav was utterly speechless despite wanting to say so many things. “Next up,” The cleric called out, momentarily putting her out of her trace. Astarion pulled her chin back to face him and when she looked, he was on one knee.
“I’m sorry, I used the battle as an excuse because---I know this is crazy.” The lack of anything in his hands made him awkwardly place them on his knee. “I don’t have anything to---Ah!” He quickly slipped a ring from his finger to hold out to you. “It may not fit but—”
“Can you guys hurry up?” An eld behind them yelled.
Tav’s neck snapped to death glare the man as if to stay ‘do not ruin my proposal.’ Astarion simply let her to do the work as the scary Drow lady. The rest of the line got extremely quiet as Tav stuck out her hand for him to slip the ring on, he hesitated until she smiled.
“I never saw myself getting married.” As a Drow, the whole affair was rarely ever love based or something a girl could dream of. “But I want to live or die as your wife, Astarion.”
He softly smiled and focused on slipping the ring on her finger, he was correct, it was slightly big, but a steel promise, nonetheless. Astarion got up and held her face before kissing her.
“So…” The cleric mused. “Are we doing this or…?”
The newly engaged and soon to be married couple turned with a confident look and nodded, knowing whatever way the next days ended, they would end them together.
--
a/n: ahh i hade been mulling on this cute lil drabble idea since i found out joined couples in dnd get a +2 AC when they are within 30 ft of each other which is so fun and cute! also i have so many weddings coming up and marriage as a concept is very sweet to me!
not edited at all, so excuse mistakes!
i kinda like that astarion is in reality more 'traditional' when it comes to romance. defo still flirty and not prudish, but i could see him loving the idea of marriage and being very into a domestic life for a while after all the adventuring dies down. this tav and him are kinda crazy for this but go off divas
ellievsbear
blakekathryn
tangentwithtanner
turnnoffyourmind
