I almost feel like submitting this to @super-hero-confessions but the ask box wouldn't allow enough text for what I'm going to say.
I got a LOT of hate on Instagram for saying I love how dominate Ascended Astarion is and how I find it sexy. Saying I was sick in the head and a lot of other stuff that led to me deleting comments and even blocking people.
Of course, as per usual, everyone hating on me had private profiles. Now, yes, I limit those who comment on my posts to followers & those I follow, however, I did that because I was getting a lot of hate from red hat wearing Nazis and anti-vaxxer wackadoos. But my profile still isn't private.
They also ignored what I said. Some of which I'll include here but also other points.
1: Astarion is a fictional character. He isn't real. We're allowed to headcanon what we want with fictional characters. Even if Lairan says that he turns into another Cazador, doesn't mean I'm not allowed to headcanon he doesn't.
2: I'm a victim of abuse too. I actually find Astarion ascending and taking his power back therapeutic. It's been 30 years and I'm STILL afraid of Kurt and how he used to beat me.
3: I'm a Primal Brat Submissive. Of course I'm going to be turned on by a character being dominate. Be it Astarion, Karlach, etc.
4: Just because I condone things in fiction doesn't mean I condone it in real life. I also find Erik AKA The Phantom Of The Opera hot. (Novel version specifically.) Just because I think Christine should have chosen him, not Raoul, doesn't mean I condone kidnapping sopranos and terrorizing opera houses.
5: How is this any different than women who read Dark Romance novels and sexualize masked serial killers like Ghostface, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, etc? For fuck's sake, there are women out there who think Esmeralda should've chosen to be with Frollo when it comes to The Hunchback Of Notre Dame.
6: If there was a way to make Astarion a full vampire rather than just a spawn without ascending him, those of us who enjoy Ascended Astarion would go that route. There's no point in romancing a vampire if you're not going to become one too.
7: Ascended Astarion is still way less power hungry and toxic than Gale. Gale is so bitter about his ex he wants to overthrow the gods and become a god himself. Ascended Astarion is satisfied with the material plane.
8: This isn't like when you get some creep shipping himself with a 5 year old anime girl but trying to justify it with "Well, she's really a 5,000 year old demon in a 5 year old's body." No, dude, you're just a pedophile. There's a huge difference between me, a 49 year old woman, finding the dominate nature in a character who was a full grown adult when they became a vampire sexy, and some creep who finds the body of a 5 year old "attractive."
Honestly, just let me enjoy seeing my character on her knees with Astarion's hand around her throat before kissing her.
