I love love lovvve when people put Astarion with their character who isn't traditionally beautiful. Doubly so when it's gnomes. Like yessssss really dig into the "learning to see and love someone for who they are" aspect of his story. Make HIM do it. Of course his ass will find it easier to love a drow or tiefling who looks like they came off the runway; he's shallow (at least initially) and vain. But seeing someone love him for more than his body? Him learning to move passed his bigoted views and truly seeing someone else for who they are? I know some people say they think Astarions romance should have been race locked, but I completely disagree. Part of his story is all about seeing someone for more than a sex object and not placing all of their value in how sexually sought after they are, and Astarion learning to love and want someone for more than their beauty is genuinely so appealing to me. Because, at least from my interpretation, he really does find the character he falls in love with beautiful, regardless of race. Not at first, in all cases, as you can see how he's... Less enthusiastic with the short races during his act 1 sex scene. But in every case, he is having sex with them to manipulate them, and the rest is either a plus or a minus. He chooses the player with high approval because he views them as powerful enough and competent enough to use them to his purposes - not because he's in love with them. The whole point is that he falls in love with them by accident, and I think that works great with characters who aren't traditionally beautiful.
kianamaiart
izzy806
blakekathryn
titsay
romaincrisis
stormborns
ellievsbear
germansingergirl
