Mostly Astarion x female Tav or Astarion x my OC, although other characters do make appearances.
Read on AO3
Series
Conversations with a vampire
Summary: Astarion's eyes shot open and he scowled at the child crouched near him. This had to a trick. Because there was no way that a child dressed like a noble would be in a back alley behind the Flophouse at this time at night offering him salvation in the form of a potion of superior healing.
Humor/Friendship/Angst
Rating: Teen. Mild language, mentions of abuse in later chapters, canon compliant violence.
Setting: Set before the events of the game.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
💖Art 💖
Art - chapter 5 by @vetochkarowan
Ebony - chapter 8 (coming soon!) by @vetochkarowan
Handkerchief by @vetochkarowan
OC Wardrobe
Chasing perfection
Chasing perfection is not only impractical but mostly unattainable. Instead of boosting our achievements, it shrinks them. Why? Because when we aim too high, "failure" becomes the norm, chipping away at our self-confidence bit by bit. But then again, maybe perfection is overrated.
Humor/Angst/Romance
Rating: Mature. Mentions of abuse, violence, mature themes. Chapters with smut will be marked red.
Pairing: Astarion/(Fem)Tav
Setting: Act 1 and Act 2
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
💖Art💖
Cora and her dog Ebony
Fun facts about your OC
Dating for Dummies
A one-shot collection detailing Astarion's clumsy attempts to start and maintain a relationship. Modern AU, Humor, Romance, Astarion x Tav.
Brunch - Another, better emotionally equipped male would probably just ask Tav out. Like on an actual proper date at a nice venue rather than sticking to their monthly meeting for brunch as a pathetic excuse for spending time with her. But that was the crux of the problem. Astarion had absolutely zero clue how to be in a relationship.
Thirsty Thursday: Coconut Rum Confessions (MNDI) - Having been just friends with Tav for years, Astarion finally decides to tell her how he really feels.
One-shots
The Art of Appreciation - Pairing: Astarion x female Reader. Set in Act II. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, discovered in the unique traits admired by those closest to us. Now, Astarion isn’t in love—don’t be utterly ridiculous, darling!—but he certainly knows exactly how to make you adore every inch of your form.
Clumsy - Pairing:Astarion x female Tav. Set in Act I, before Astarion confesses to being a vampire. Tav has always been a little clumsy, but it was nothing too inconvenient until Astarion came along. Since then, whenever Tav’s blood would spill, he would be there.
What books don't teach you (or how to date a wickedly charming vampire if all you know about dating is purely theoretical) - (MNDI, 18+) Unfortunately, having enough smutty fiction to sink a ship did not prepare you for dating (were you even dating?) Astarion. A shy/inexperienced Reader x Astarion fic where both do everything wrong but somehow end up getting it right. Set in Act II (before Astarion's confession).
A welcome distraction - Pairing:Astarion x female Tav. Set in Act II. Astarion was not nice. Nothing about him was even remotely nice. Such a bland, plain word that carried little to no meaning. But perhaps, given the right incentive, he could be persuaded to be nice to the one person who he felt deserved it most.
Honeycomb - Pairing:Astarion x female Tav. Set in the beggining of Act II. Astarion had a brilliant, fool-proof plan. And nothing, especially not a piece of honeycomb, would get in the way.
Yours, if you'll have me - Pairing: Astarion x female Tav. Set in Act II. Astarion found the letter on the ground between his tent and Gale’s earlier this morning. Not thinking much of it, Astarion swiped it, hoping to get a piece of juicy gossip. Gale having a secret admirer, how fun! He didn’t realise that the contents were meant for him. And from their leader, no less!
Fangs and Cheeks - 18+ MNDI Pairing: Astarion x female Reader. Set in Act III. Astarion is an ass man.
Upon reflection, I find you perfect - Pairing: Astarion x female Reader. Set post-game. You find a way for Astarion to see his reflection for the first time in over 200 years.
A sound judgement - Pairing: Astarion x female Reader. Magistrate Astarion AU (Elf Astarion, No Cazador). Astarion was bored and you were the only acceptable source of entertainment. Luckily for Astarion he was, in fact, the law and you had no choice but to obey him.
Astarion x my OCs
What happens at Sharess', stays at Sharess' - Pairing: Astarion x OC, Astarion x Cora. Set in Act III. Astarion knew that stubborn look. It meant that Cora had a plan and would stop at nothing to make it work. The thought both excited and unnerved him.
Other writers' OCs
A white lie - Pairing: Astarion x Sima. Set in Act III. Astarion could not remember being certain of anything in the past 200 years. But he knew without a slither of a doubt that he would do whatever it took to make sure that they were safe. For ever. For good.
Two-shots
Brunch - Pairing:Astarion x female Tav. AU two-shot (no Cazador, elf Astarion). Another, better emotionally equipped male would probably just ask Tav out. Like on an actual proper date at a nice venue rather than sticking to their monthly meeting for brunch as a pathetic excuse for spending time with her. But that was the crux of the problem. Astarion had absolutely zero clue as to how to be in a relationship.
Part of his plan - Pairing: Astarion x female Tav. Set in Act II, just after the tiefling party. Astarion was sure that being indispensable to Tav was the best way to secure his place by her side. And this is where his sewing skills would come in handy.
The best laid plans - Pairing: Astarion x female Tav. Set in Act II, just before Astarion's confession. Even the best laid plans may go wrong. Admittedly, Astarion's plan hadn't been that great to begin with.
Batstarion Week 2024
My headcanon is that spawn Astarion can turn into an adorable bat. Here are some drabbles exploring your and Astarion's life post-game for Batstarion Week 2024.
Batstarion Week 2024 - Day 1 - Falling asleep in unusual places
Batstarion Week 2024 -Day 2 - Cuteness aggression
Batstarion Week 2024 - Day 3 - High fashion
Batstarion Week 2024 - Day 4 - Cameo with another character
Batstarion Week 2024 - Day 5 - Feeding your Batstarion
Batstarion Week 2024 - Day 6 - Bat cuddles
Batstarion Week 2024 - Day 7 - Any prompt (Happily Ever After)
Augustarion 2024
Interconnected drabbles and one-shots celebrating our favourite rogue. Mostly reader (You) x Astarion.
Augustarion Day 1 – Strawberries 🍓 In which Astarion didn’t steal these for you, he just wanted a taste.
Augustarion Day 2 – Pool Party 🌊 In which Astarion shows you exactly why you shouldn't be insecure.
Augustarion Day 3 - Apron 18+ MNDI In which Astarion takes care of you. And I mean sexually.
Augustarion Day 4 - Mythologies In which your love isn't a cautionary tale.
Augustarion Day 6 - Cream In which Astarion complains that you have a hero complex.
Augustarion Day 7 - Underwear In which Astarion has been embroidering cheeky messages on your underwear in elvish.
Augustarion Day 14 - Protective In which Astarion is reminded that he is not alone.
Augustarion Day 15 - Shirt that goes hard In which a spell gone awry turns Astarion's shirt into an unusual, yet formidable weapon.
Augustarion Day 28 - DILF 18+ MNDI In which you won a bet and were granted a once in a lifetime opportunity - to see into your future.
Halsin
Good - Pairing: Halsin x female Reader (Durge). Set in Act III. Perhaps you wanting to be good started out as a way to get into Halsin's good books (and his pants). Yet, you find that you have come to actually like helping those you call friends. Perhaps being good becomes you after all.
Thank you so much for the ask @ly--canthrope! Hope you like it! 💖💖
The ask: Astarion x Reader with small chest and she is self-conscious about it.
Summary: They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, discovered in the unique traits admired by those closest to us. Now, Astarion isn’t in love—don’t be utterly ridiculous, darling!—but he certainly knows exactly how to make you adore every inch of your form.
Word count: 2.8k
Tags: Astarion x female Reader, Astarion x Reader, Insecure Reader, Reader is worried about her breast size, Act II, pre-confession, Astarion is bad at feelings, slightly suggestive, fluff with a tiny bit of angst, Astarion and Shadowheart are bitchy
A/N: If you notice any mistakes, please let me know! 💖
Astarion watched their self-appointed leader with quiet amusement. There she was, attempting to intimidate a trio of towering ogres and other Absolutists with nothing but sheer bravado.
Needless to say, you were failing quite spectacularly.
A moment later, his amusement shifted to genuine awe. You thrust your dagger cleanly into an Absolutist cultist, the odious male dropping to the ground instantly with a thud. Now, that was his kind of leader. Fierce, passionate, lethal. And, most delightfully, utterly enamoured with him.
"Fangs! Watch out!"
Karlach’s shout snapped him back to reality. Astarion ducked just as an arrow whistled past his ear. Scowling, the elf lunged at the attacker. Within seconds, the half-elf archer was on the ground, clutching a severed throat. Astarion smirked, wiping a drop of blood from his cheek and licking his palm with a menacing look aimed at the rest of the cultists. If one wished to dance with a professional, one had to expect a world of hurt.
"Ogling your girl during a potential bloodbath? Can't blame you, mate!" Karlach bellowed over the din of battle, swinging her axe with a booming laugh.
“Just waiting for my cue to join in with all the fun.” Astarion simply winked in response and settled into the familiar rhythm of a battle.
“Careful, Astarion. Keep that up and someone might think that you actually care,” Shadowheart’s Shadowheart’s sharp, dry voice cut through the noise of the battle.
Astarion bristled, his fangs flashing in a dangerous smile as his knuckles tightened around his blades. “Jealousy does not become you, darling.”
“Jealous? You are hardly my type.”
“That was not what I meant,” Astarion dodged an attack and sliced down, his target crumping to the ground. “You are just bitter that I get to enjoy her every talent, when your experience is limited to battle.”
Shadowheart scoffed. “Hardly. “ Shadowheart slammed her shield into an advancing foe, her eyes flashing as she healed herself. “You care about keeping your protector alive. I care about keeping her alive. But of course. Do keep boasting about the talents that you-”
“Will you two quit it?” A sudden voice cut through their bickering as you parried a heavy blow nearby. “Stop discussing my talents while we are surrounded by cultists, or I swear I am letting the next owlbear eat you both!”
Later that evening, you shook out your hair with a tired sigh, trying to rid it of the dust and sweat of battle. You didn’t feel like washing in the freezing cold river, but the leather armour clinging to your skin and the splatters of blood on absolutely everything were disgusting enough to motivate you. Getting changed out of your armour and waiting long enough for everyone to be done, you slipped away from the noisy camp.
Finally, some time alone.
"Darling! I thought I saw someone heading down to the river," a smooth, familiar voice purred from the shadows. "Thinking of taking a dip under the moonlight?"
You jumped slightly. "Oh! Astarion! Actually, I was just leaving, actually. "
"But you just got here," he countered, stepping into the silvery light with an amused arch of his brow. "And you are in desperate need of a wash. Unless my eyes deceive me, you look like you've been rolling in the dirt with an owlbear."
"Ah—well, yes! It was a messy fight," you stammered, trying to ignore how easily his presence flustered you. "But if you need to wash up, I’m happy to give you some privacy."
"While that is incredibly considerate of you, I think we can find it in ourselves to share a whole river, hm?" He sauntered closer, his eyes gleaming. "Besides, it isn't as though we haven't shared... close quarters before. Unless you’ve suddenly developed a bout of modesty?"
While the thought of bathing together sparked a thrilling warmth in your chest, you were not prepared to stand exposed beneath the clear moonlight.
Astarion was right, of course. You had spent a night together after the celebration, and it had been wonderful. The most amazing, toe-curling, unforgettable experience of your life.
But that night had been fuelled by liquid courage and the intoxicating high of being praised as the saviour of the Grove. You were not yourself then. Someone better, stronger, braver. Tonight, reality had set in, and your self-consciousness was back with a vengeance.
It didn't help that your companions looked like walking masterpieces. Shadowheart’s flawless silhouette, perfectly accentuated by her leather camp clothes, made you feel entirely inadequate and… flat.
"You're doing that thing again," Astarion interrupted your spiralling thoughts.
"What thing?"
"The thing where your mind spins into a frenzy and you look like you're about to apologize for simply existing," he said, stepping closer. "Tell me, my sweet, what is troubling you?"
"It's nothing. Nothing important.”
“I will be the judge of that.”
“Just... look at everyone else. Like Shadowheart and her soft, perfect curves." You sighed, tracing a pattern in the dirt with your boot. "And then there's me. There is very little about me to... entice anyone. Let alone you." You licked your lips and continued in a quieter tone. “Because I look at you and wonder would anyone so beautiful ever settle for someone like me.”
Astarion let out a soft chuckle, though his expression remained guarded. "I find that your idea of what entices me is detached from reality, my sweet."
"Are you telling me that looks don't matter?" you asked, a hint of defensiveness creeping into your voice. "Because it sounds like a crappy attempt at making me feel better."
"Quite the contrary. I am not trying to make you feel better," he murmured, his gaze dropping to the laces of your camp shirt. "I am simply stating a fact. You spend so much time hiding behind armour and cloth. It's a pity, really."
Before you could protest, his cool fingers gently caught the hem of your shirt. He didn't pull, but the question in his eyes was clear. You let out a small breath, your heart hammering against your ribs as the fabric bunched under his hands. He undressed you slowly, until you were left just in your simple undergarments, the cool night air hitting your skin.
Astarion’s gaze softened, losing its usual edge. "There. Was that so terrifying?"
"A little," you admitted, crossing your arms loosely over your chest.
He took a step closer, his cool fingers settling over your wrists. He didn't force your arms down, but simply waited, giving you the choice. A chance to back away. You swallowed hard, letting your arms drop to your sides.
"Look at you," Astarion whispered, his eyes tracing your collarbones before settling on your chest. He brushed his knuckles down your arms, his touch remarkably light. "You have this soft warmth to you. It's entirely captivating. How could you ever think you couldn't entice?"
Trying to shield yourself from the uncharacteristic sincerity in his voice, you offered a weak smile and tried to think about anything else. "Astarion, if you are just hungry, you can say so. I don't mind."
"Tsk, you are entirely no fun," he chuckled, fingers lingering on your skin. "And yes, I am always hungry. Eternally so. I might even trouble you for a small bite... later. But you, my dearest, have been so incredibly accommodating of my needs. Tonight, let's focus on yours."
Astarion stepped back just enough to offer you his hand, his fingers curling gently around yours. With a subtle nod toward the shimmering water, he guided you down the gentle slope of the riverbank.
The initial shock of the cold water made you gasp, but as you waded deeper, the moonlit river began to feel like a soothing balm against the aches of a brutal day. Astarion moved beside you with fluid grace, completely unbothered by the chill, the water swirling around his waist.
"You see?" The elf murmured. "Nothing terrible happened just because you shed a few layers of cloth and self-doubt."
"Easy for you to say," you muttered, with a small, genuine smile. You cupped some water in your hands and rinsed the lingering grime from his hands with gentle movements. "In this light, you look like a painting come to life."
"Well, I am beautiful. That is simply an undeniable fact," he replied with a dramatic shrug. The sharp, theatrical edge of his smirk softened as he looked back at you, shoulders relaxing as you continued your unhurried ministrations. He drifted a step closer, the water rippling between you. "But tonight, the moonlight suits you far better."
You stopped, looking up at him as the cool water pooled around your chest. "Thank you, Astarion," you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper. "For... for listening. For not mocking me."
"Darling, I mock many things. Mostly when Gale goes off on one of his boring lectures and Lae'zel's complete lack of a sense of humour becomes a little too obvious," he reached out, his cool damp fingers gently tucking a wet strand of hair behind your ear. "But I would never mock the things that make you so uniquely you. Now, let's wash the rest of this dreadful cultists’ blood away, shall we?"
His hands slid lower and then lower still, pressing with that sudden, hungry intensity. And yet a familiar knot tightened in your stomach. His gaze drifted downward, and your breath hitched. It had nothing to do with the cold water, but the sudden urge to cover yourself again.
Feeling you stiffen, Astarion paused. His lips hovered just above the gentle curve of your breast.
"Oh, darling," he murmured, his voice a low, vibrating rumble against your skin. He pulled back just enough to look into your eyes. "Don't tell me you're retreating back into that pretty, complicated mind of yours?"
"Astarion," you breathed, trying to keep your voice steady. "If you're just trying to be polite... you don't have to pretend. I know there isn't exactly a lot here for you to work with."
Astarion let out a dramatic, breathy sigh, tossing his head back slightly as if utterly exhausted by your stubbornness.
"I feel that we have entirely different definitions of what polite means. Over the years, I was accused of being selfish, dishonest, roguishly handsome, of course. But polite? Honestly, my sweet, I feel rather offended that you called me something so boring and bland."
Astarion’s dramatic rant was followed by a melodic chuckle. He leaned in closer, his thumb sweeping across your nipples in a slow, possessive circles that sent a shiver straight down your spine. He tightened his grip around your waist just enough to pull you flush against his chest, his head tilting so his lips were right beside your ear.
"Polite is a word reserved for people like Wyll and Gale," he purred, one hand moving down to trace teasing pattern along your ribs. "People who bow, and do what they are supposed to, and who use their chivalrous voices to say empty niceties. Those who pretend they aren't thinking utterly wicked things. I have never pretended to be a gentleman. Nor have I kept the wicked, deplorable things I think about to myself."
"And as for these?" Astarion whispered, his eyes dropping to your chest with a dark hunger. "They are absolutely exquisite. Soft, perfectly formed, and fitting so incredibly well right here in my hands. There is a delicate, delicious perfection to them.”
He leaned down, pressing a firm, lingering kiss right to the soft slope of your breast, making you gasp out loud.
"I don’t want you to say one more ugly, untrue word about yourself tonight or ever again," he murmured. "You are utterly captivating, exactly as you are. Now... where were we?"
A splash of cold water broke the heavy tension as you playfully nudged Astarion’s chest, a laugh escaping your lips. "Alright, alright! You don't have to smother me to prove a point, vampire."
"Smother you? Darling, I am offering you absolute devotion as I cleanse you of the cultists’ filthy blood, and a masterful appreciation of your finest assets, and you call it smothering?"
"Oh, you're right," you said, your voice entirely too innocent. "We absolutely must get rid of every last drop of cultist blood."
He hummed in approval, but before he could process the shift in your tone, you brought your hands down sharply against the water's surface. Water arched through the air, drenching him completely from the shoulders up and flattening his perfectly coiffed curls against his forehead.
Astarion froze. For terrifying seconds he stood entirely motionless, water sliding down into his eyes and dripping from the tip of his nose.
"You did not just do that," he blinked away the droplets, his voice laced with amusement.
"I believe I did," you said, taking a strategic step backward into deeper water. “Have to make sure not to be boring and bland with you, darling.”
"Right. That’s it! Come here!" Astarion declared with theatrical outrage.
The vampire lunged forward with the speed of a predator, using both hands to send a blinding sheet of water directly into your face. You sputtered, laughing through the spray, and immediately struck back. In the next few minutes, the heavy tension evaporated completely, replaced by splashing and breathless laughter.
Eventually, Astarion slipped behind you, his damp arms wrapping loosely around your waist to push your arms against your body and anchor you in place. He was laughing against your shoulder, his cool breath against your skin.
“Do you surrender?”
"Yes, I yield!" you gasped, leaning back against him, chest heaving and cheeks flushed.
"Good," he chuckled, his grip loosening just slightly, yet holding you close in a way that felt protective. "Because I would hate to have to ruin my hair any further to prove a point."
You two settled into comfortable quiet. The gentle lapping of the river the only sound breaking the night. Astarion held you against his chest for a few moments longer, his chin resting lightly on your shoulder as your breathing grew steadier.
"Come along, my sweet," he murmured. "Before you catch a chill and I am forced to listen to you sneeze and cough your way through our adventure. Though perhaps the Absolute is susceptible to common colds and that would bring us an easy victory?"
You slapped his biceps playfully, stepping out of his loose embrace and wading back toward the riverbank. The self-consciousness that had weighed so heavily on you before hadn’t entirely vanished. But as you noticed that your soaked smallclothes became completely transparent and clung to your skin, for once your first urge was not to cover up your chest.
Peeling the wet undergarments off your skin, you quickly dressed yourself in your dry camp clothes, feeling a new sense of lightness rather than unease as you saw Astarion look at you from time to time. The elf wrung out and shook his shirt with a dramatic sigh, making sure to get some water on you, and then changed into dry clothes.
The walk back to camp was quiet and easy. You walked side by side through the trees, fingers brushing but not lingering, the distant crackle of the camp's bonfire guiding the two of you back. At some point your companions found their ways to their tents and all was still. The raucous noise of Karlach and the others had died down, replaced by the low, steady breathing of your sleeping companions.
When you reached the edge of your tent, you turned back to look at Astarion. The moonlight caught the silver of his hair, the curls still delightfully messy from your water fight.
"Goodnight, Astarion," you whispered and brushed a damp curl behind his ear with warm fingers. "Thank you. And I’m sorry for ruining your hair."
He smirked, leaning against the wooden post of your tent structure, crossing his arms. "It’s quite alright. But do not make a habit of it, darling." He paused, his expression softening into something entirely genuine for just a fraction of a second. "Sleep well. I will be keeping watch."
And then the vampire melted into the shadows toward his own tent, leaving you to crawl into your bedroll with a warm, quiet smile.
Astarion settled gracefully in front of the crackling fire, tucking his legs beneath him with an elegance that seemed entirely effortless. He sat there, unblinking and unmoving. Seemingly still, but his thoughts were anything but.
For two centuries everyone fit into neat, predictable boxes. There were dangers to avoid, marks to manipulate and, most recently, blood bags to drain.
The orange light danced across his sharp features as he stared into the flames. You were not a target. You were not a night he’d rather forget. And, perhaps worst of all, you were no longer just his source of sustenance.
Thank you so much for tagging me @verbenaa, @inkymoonbunny, @bloodjune and @shandoratheexplorer! Loved reading your WIPs! 💖
I'm done with exams🎉 and broke up with my bf😭 . So... your know. Last week was eventful. On the bright side, I definitely have more time to write fic now! Making progress on 'Feeling Darling' (Astarion x Female Reader smutty Part 2 of 'Fangs and Cheeks'), so here's a little snippet!
“Gith, I do not usually repeat myself. Although perhaps I should make an exception for a creature from another plane," Minthara’s voice cut through the air, icy and unyielding. "I am going to bed the wizard tonight. It is an honour. And he is most eager and willing.”
“I am also not in the habit of repeating myself," Lae’zel shot back. "But as you are clearly hard of hearing, know this! I wish to have him, and I do not share. Find another to warm your bedroll.”
You blinked owlishly, frozen in the doorway as you watched the two of them bicker. Your gaze slowly drifted over to Gale. You weren’t entirely sure when or how he had managed to become the central object of desire for two of the most dangerous women in Faerûn. Honestly, it didn't look like Gale had the answer either.
No pressure tags 💖: @khywren, @anacdoce, @vividiana, @preciouslittlebhaalbae, @obsessedwhyyes @busy-baker, @clazberryk, @xxnashiraxx @larvatuss, @meeshrox, @funniestbitchinfaerun @dramatiquechipmunk @irondeficienttav, @pursuitseternal, @deadly-diminuendo, @loserscardigan and anyone who feels like sharing! 💖
thank you for the tag @rubyeyebabybat & @inkymoonbunny !!! it's been awhile since i've played these games; it reminds me of why i love this fandom <3 and i loved both of your lines.
tonight was the first time i've written since the last chapter drop, so this is the longest i've gone without writing! it was nice to get back into it, even if all that's coming out are the most disgusting and sappy feelings of Effy being so gone for Astarion i might puke my whole soul out. also this is more than one line so i'm a tiny bit cheating but ya.
tags for literally all you beautiful writers out there and: @anacdoce ; @amoremagnificentbastard ; @andromedaancunin ; @olivedrop ; @amouseyoucanhold ; @loserscardigan ; @xxnashiraxx ; @meeshrox ; @saucy-scribbler ; @bludazey ; @alliskit ; @a-tangled-mermaid ; @poetsiren ; @roguishcat ; @thedreamlessnights ; @badbloodwitch ; @justabiteofspite ; @preciouslittlebhaalbae ; @vividiana
Thank you, @rubyeyebabybat and @alrendriablaze, for tagging me!
I can't really share the last line I wrote because it's a huge spoiler, so I'll just drop you guys the fanfic itself. The first chapter is up and has only 2745 words
Have fun!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Now onto the teaser for Broken Mirror's next chapter!
"Gods, I'm so tired," I whisper. "It is her right to punish me so. I have failed, and I deserve this."
"Do you, though?" The whispered words sound like they come from far, far away, and oddly enough, they sound just like Rolim.
"Leave me alone," I answer as blood trickles down from the corner of my mouth. I draw another wheezing breath, trying to gather enough magic to heal the damage so I may yet live another day.
I reach for the magic I share with my Dark Lady, but the pool is empty.
I feel so cold…
This is the end, isn't it?
"Shadowheart," Rolim's voice again. "Stay with me."
"I don't need you, and you don't need me," I answer the phantom. "So why won't you stop pestering me?"
"Because you're my friend."
I manage a weak snicker; the cold feeling from before gives way to a gentle warmth.
"Who knew that death could feel so nice?" I mutter weakly.
"Now now, don't be dramatic," Rolim's voice sounds in my ears again. "You're not dead yet."
"I'm hallucinating," I answer. "Clearly, this is it."
But then—
I wonder—
Why would I dream of him when I lay dying?
Gentle tags to @nw39 @optimisticgrey @lottavilja @vakariansyndrome @denesmera @roguishcat @chaushaus
Thank you so much for the ask @ly--canthrope! Hope you like it! 💖💖
The ask: Astarion x Reader with small chest and she is self-conscious about it.
Summary: They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, discovered in the unique traits admired by those closest to us. Now, Astarion isn’t in love—don’t be utterly ridiculous, darling!—but he certainly knows exactly how to make you adore every inch of your form.
Word count: 2.8k
Tags: Astarion x female Reader, Astarion x Reader, Insecure Reader, Reader is worried about her breast size, Act II, pre-confession, Astarion is bad at feelings, slightly suggestive, fluff with a tiny bit of angst, Astarion and Shadowheart are bitchy
A/N: If you notice any mistakes, please let me know! 💖
Astarion watched their self-appointed leader with quiet amusement. There she was, attempting to intimidate a trio of towering ogres and other Absolutists with nothing but sheer bravado.
Needless to say, you were failing quite spectacularly.
A moment later, his amusement shifted to genuine awe. You thrust your dagger cleanly into an Absolutist cultist, the odious male dropping to the ground instantly with a thud. Now, that was his kind of leader. Fierce, passionate, lethal. And, most delightfully, utterly enamoured with him.
"Fangs! Watch out!"
Karlach’s shout snapped him back to reality. Astarion ducked just as an arrow whistled past his ear. Scowling, the elf lunged at the attacker. Within seconds, the half-elf archer was on the ground, clutching a severed throat. Astarion smirked, wiping a drop of blood from his cheek and licking his palm with a menacing look aimed at the rest of the cultists. If one wished to dance with a professional, one had to expect a world of hurt.
"Ogling your girl during a potential bloodbath? Can't blame you, mate!" Karlach bellowed over the din of battle, swinging her axe with a booming laugh.
“Just waiting for my cue to join in with all the fun.” Astarion simply winked in response and settled into the familiar rhythm of a battle.
“Careful, Astarion. Keep that up and someone might think that you actually care,” Shadowheart’s Shadowheart’s sharp, dry voice cut through the noise of the battle.
Astarion bristled, his fangs flashing in a dangerous smile as his knuckles tightened around his blades. “Jealousy does not become you, darling.”
“Jealous? You are hardly my type.”
“That was not what I meant,” Astarion dodged an attack and sliced down, his target crumping to the ground. “You are just bitter that I get to enjoy her every talent, when your experience is limited to battle.”
Shadowheart scoffed. “Hardly. “ Shadowheart slammed her shield into an advancing foe, her eyes flashing as she healed herself. “You care about keeping your protector alive. I care about keeping her alive. But of course. Do keep boasting about the talents that you-”
“Will you two quit it?” A sudden voice cut through their bickering as you parried a heavy blow nearby. “Stop discussing my talents while we are surrounded by cultists, or I swear I am letting the next owlbear eat you both!”
Later that evening, you shook out your hair with a tired sigh, trying to rid it of the dust and sweat of battle. You didn’t feel like washing in the freezing cold river, but the leather armour clinging to your skin and the splatters of blood on absolutely everything were disgusting enough to motivate you. Getting changed out of your armour and waiting long enough for everyone to be done, you slipped away from the noisy camp.
Finally, some time alone.
"Darling! I thought I saw someone heading down to the river," a smooth, familiar voice purred from the shadows. "Thinking of taking a dip under the moonlight?"
You jumped slightly. "Oh! Astarion! Actually, I was just leaving, actually. "
"But you just got here," he countered, stepping into the silvery light with an amused arch of his brow. "And you are in desperate need of a wash. Unless my eyes deceive me, you look like you've been rolling in the dirt with an owlbear."
"Ah—well, yes! It was a messy fight," you stammered, trying to ignore how easily his presence flustered you. "But if you need to wash up, I’m happy to give you some privacy."
"While that is incredibly considerate of you, I think we can find it in ourselves to share a whole river, hm?" He sauntered closer, his eyes gleaming. "Besides, it isn't as though we haven't shared... close quarters before. Unless you’ve suddenly developed a bout of modesty?"
While the thought of bathing together sparked a thrilling warmth in your chest, you were not prepared to stand exposed beneath the clear moonlight.
Astarion was right, of course. You had spent a night together after the celebration, and it had been wonderful. The most amazing, toe-curling, unforgettable experience of your life.
But that night had been fuelled by liquid courage and the intoxicating high of being praised as the saviour of the Grove. You were not yourself then. Someone better, stronger, braver. Tonight, reality had set in, and your self-consciousness was back with a vengeance.
It didn't help that your companions looked like walking masterpieces. Shadowheart’s flawless silhouette, perfectly accentuated by her leather camp clothes, made you feel entirely inadequate and… flat.
"You're doing that thing again," Astarion interrupted your spiralling thoughts.
"What thing?"
"The thing where your mind spins into a frenzy and you look like you're about to apologize for simply existing," he said, stepping closer. "Tell me, my sweet, what is troubling you?"
"It's nothing. Nothing important.”
“I will be the judge of that.”
“Just... look at everyone else. Like Shadowheart and her soft, perfect curves." You sighed, tracing a pattern in the dirt with your boot. "And then there's me. There is very little about me to... entice anyone. Let alone you." You licked your lips and continued in a quieter tone. “Because I look at you and wonder would anyone so beautiful ever settle for someone like me.”
Astarion let out a soft chuckle, though his expression remained guarded. "I find that your idea of what entices me is detached from reality, my sweet."
"Are you telling me that looks don't matter?" you asked, a hint of defensiveness creeping into your voice. "Because it sounds like a crappy attempt at making me feel better."
"Quite the contrary. I am not trying to make you feel better," he murmured, his gaze dropping to the laces of your camp shirt. "I am simply stating a fact. You spend so much time hiding behind armour and cloth. It's a pity, really."
Before you could protest, his cool fingers gently caught the hem of your shirt. He didn't pull, but the question in his eyes was clear. You let out a small breath, your heart hammering against your ribs as the fabric bunched under his hands. He undressed you slowly, until you were left just in your simple undergarments, the cool night air hitting your skin.
Astarion’s gaze softened, losing its usual edge. "There. Was that so terrifying?"
"A little," you admitted, crossing your arms loosely over your chest.
He took a step closer, his cool fingers settling over your wrists. He didn't force your arms down, but simply waited, giving you the choice. A chance to back away. You swallowed hard, letting your arms drop to your sides.
"Look at you," Astarion whispered, his eyes tracing your collarbones before settling on your chest. He brushed his knuckles down your arms, his touch remarkably light. "You have this soft warmth to you. It's entirely captivating. How could you ever think you couldn't entice?"
Trying to shield yourself from the uncharacteristic sincerity in his voice, you offered a weak smile and tried to think about anything else. "Astarion, if you are just hungry, you can say so. I don't mind."
"Tsk, you are entirely no fun," he chuckled, fingers lingering on your skin. "And yes, I am always hungry. Eternally so. I might even trouble you for a small bite... later. But you, my dearest, have been so incredibly accommodating of my needs. Tonight, let's focus on yours."
Astarion stepped back just enough to offer you his hand, his fingers curling gently around yours. With a subtle nod toward the shimmering water, he guided you down the gentle slope of the riverbank.
The initial shock of the cold water made you gasp, but as you waded deeper, the moonlit river began to feel like a soothing balm against the aches of a brutal day. Astarion moved beside you with fluid grace, completely unbothered by the chill, the water swirling around his waist.
"You see?" The elf murmured. "Nothing terrible happened just because you shed a few layers of cloth and self-doubt."
"Easy for you to say," you muttered, with a small, genuine smile. You cupped some water in your hands and rinsed the lingering grime from his hands with gentle movements. "In this light, you look like a painting come to life."
"Well, I am beautiful. That is simply an undeniable fact," he replied with a dramatic shrug. The sharp, theatrical edge of his smirk softened as he looked back at you, shoulders relaxing as you continued your unhurried ministrations. He drifted a step closer, the water rippling between you. "But tonight, the moonlight suits you far better."
You stopped, looking up at him as the cool water pooled around your chest. "Thank you, Astarion," you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper. "For... for listening. For not mocking me."
"Darling, I mock many things. Mostly when Gale goes off on one of his boring lectures and Lae'zel's complete lack of a sense of humour becomes a little too obvious," he reached out, his cool damp fingers gently tucking a wet strand of hair behind your ear. "But I would never mock the things that make you so uniquely you. Now, let's wash the rest of this dreadful cultists’ blood away, shall we?"
His hands slid lower and then lower still, pressing with that sudden, hungry intensity. And yet a familiar knot tightened in your stomach. His gaze drifted downward, and your breath hitched. It had nothing to do with the cold water, but the sudden urge to cover yourself again.
Feeling you stiffen, Astarion paused. His lips hovered just above the gentle curve of your breast.
"Oh, darling," he murmured, his voice a low, vibrating rumble against your skin. He pulled back just enough to look into your eyes. "Don't tell me you're retreating back into that pretty, complicated mind of yours?"
"Astarion," you breathed, trying to keep your voice steady. "If you're just trying to be polite... you don't have to pretend. I know there isn't exactly a lot here for you to work with."
Astarion let out a dramatic, breathy sigh, tossing his head back slightly as if utterly exhausted by your stubbornness.
"I feel that we have entirely different definitions of what polite means. Over the years, I was accused of being selfish, dishonest, roguishly handsome, of course. But polite? Honestly, my sweet, I feel rather offended that you called me something so boring and bland."
Astarion’s dramatic rant was followed by a melodic chuckle. He leaned in closer, his thumb sweeping across your nipples in a slow, possessive circles that sent a shiver straight down your spine. He tightened his grip around your waist just enough to pull you flush against his chest, his head tilting so his lips were right beside your ear.
"Polite is a word reserved for people like Wyll and Gale," he purred, one hand moving down to trace teasing pattern along your ribs. "People who bow, and do what they are supposed to, and who use their chivalrous voices to say empty niceties. Those who pretend they aren't thinking utterly wicked things. I have never pretended to be a gentleman. Nor have I kept the wicked, deplorable things I think about to myself."
"And as for these?" Astarion whispered, his eyes dropping to your chest with a dark hunger. "They are absolutely exquisite. Soft, perfectly formed, and fitting so incredibly well right here in my hands. There is a delicate, delicious perfection to them.”
He leaned down, pressing a firm, lingering kiss right to the soft slope of your breast, making you gasp out loud.
"I don’t want you to say one more ugly, untrue word about yourself tonight or ever again," he murmured. "You are utterly captivating, exactly as you are. Now... where were we?"
A splash of cold water broke the heavy tension as you playfully nudged Astarion’s chest, a laugh escaping your lips. "Alright, alright! You don't have to smother me to prove a point, vampire."
"Smother you? Darling, I am offering you absolute devotion as I cleanse you of the cultists’ filthy blood, and a masterful appreciation of your finest assets, and you call it smothering?"
"Oh, you're right," you said, your voice entirely too innocent. "We absolutely must get rid of every last drop of cultist blood."
He hummed in approval, but before he could process the shift in your tone, you brought your hands down sharply against the water's surface. Water arched through the air, drenching him completely from the shoulders up and flattening his perfectly coiffed curls against his forehead.
Astarion froze. For terrifying seconds he stood entirely motionless, water sliding down into his eyes and dripping from the tip of his nose.
"You did not just do that," he blinked away the droplets, his voice laced with amusement.
"I believe I did," you said, taking a strategic step backward into deeper water. “Have to make sure not to be boring and bland with you, darling.”
"Right. That’s it! Come here!" Astarion declared with theatrical outrage.
The vampire lunged forward with the speed of a predator, using both hands to send a blinding sheet of water directly into your face. You sputtered, laughing through the spray, and immediately struck back. In the next few minutes, the heavy tension evaporated completely, replaced by splashing and breathless laughter.
Eventually, Astarion slipped behind you, his damp arms wrapping loosely around your waist to push your arms against your body and anchor you in place. He was laughing against your shoulder, his cool breath against your skin.
“Do you surrender?”
"Yes, I yield!" you gasped, leaning back against him, chest heaving and cheeks flushed.
"Good," he chuckled, his grip loosening just slightly, yet holding you close in a way that felt protective. "Because I would hate to have to ruin my hair any further to prove a point."
You two settled into comfortable quiet. The gentle lapping of the river the only sound breaking the night. Astarion held you against his chest for a few moments longer, his chin resting lightly on your shoulder as your breathing grew steadier.
"Come along, my sweet," he murmured. "Before you catch a chill and I am forced to listen to you sneeze and cough your way through our adventure. Though perhaps the Absolute is susceptible to common colds and that would bring us an easy victory?"
You slapped his biceps playfully, stepping out of his loose embrace and wading back toward the riverbank. The self-consciousness that had weighed so heavily on you before hadn’t entirely vanished. But as you noticed that your soaked smallclothes became completely transparent and clung to your skin, for once your first urge was not to cover up your chest.
Peeling the wet undergarments off your skin, you quickly dressed yourself in your dry camp clothes, feeling a new sense of lightness rather than unease as you saw Astarion look at you from time to time. The elf wrung out and shook his shirt with a dramatic sigh, making sure to get some water on you, and then changed into dry clothes.
The walk back to camp was quiet and easy. You walked side by side through the trees, fingers brushing but not lingering, the distant crackle of the camp's bonfire guiding the two of you back. At some point your companions found their ways to their tents and all was still. The raucous noise of Karlach and the others had died down, replaced by the low, steady breathing of your sleeping companions.
When you reached the edge of your tent, you turned back to look at Astarion. The moonlight caught the silver of his hair, the curls still delightfully messy from your water fight.
"Goodnight, Astarion," you whispered and brushed a damp curl behind his ear with warm fingers. "Thank you. And I’m sorry for ruining your hair."
He smirked, leaning against the wooden post of your tent structure, crossing his arms. "It’s quite alright. But do not make a habit of it, darling." He paused, his expression softening into something entirely genuine for just a fraction of a second. "Sleep well. I will be keeping watch."
And then the vampire melted into the shadows toward his own tent, leaving you to crawl into your bedroll with a warm, quiet smile.
Astarion settled gracefully in front of the crackling fire, tucking his legs beneath him with an elegance that seemed entirely effortless. He sat there, unblinking and unmoving. Seemingly still, but his thoughts were anything but.
For two centuries everyone fit into neat, predictable boxes. There were dangers to avoid, marks to manipulate and, most recently, blood bags to drain.
The orange light danced across his sharp features as he stared into the flames. You were not a target. You were not a night he’d rather forget. And, perhaps worst of all, you were no longer just his source of sustenance.
ok so, I approached my local library with a proposal to donate a mural as a way to A: build portfolio/gain practical experience and B: give back to a beloved public institution. The director was very enthusiastic about it and i've been working on it since the beginning of March. Come with me as I endeavor to paint what is in all honesty an excessive amount of birds
I wanted the birds to look like they were actually in the space so first thing after doing the draft was to do a lighting study
after that I covered the walls in letters in lieu of a projector/vr headset bc i have neither of those :) Then i take a picture of the section of wall and superimpose the lineart over top of it so I can pencil in the lines
et voila
and that was a whole week on it's own so next comes the paintin' >:)
my chains are broken i am FREE. although i did have a great deal of fun with this, the barring on the wings itself took me like four days and i am READY to move on
this was a week and a half of continuous work so please excuse me for getting a little emotional in the bg 🙏
BIRD NUMBER 10!!! The Male Mallard Duck, Anas platyrhynchos
the male and female ones are gonna be posted separately bc they're taking a lot longer lol but yea! super happy i was able to capture the iridescent green of the head, i found metallic green and blue paint at a craft store that really made his head POP. it looks better in person i promise
ALSO!! As this is the 10th one, BIG announcement. The end is in sight!!!!! I plan to finish within the next 3 weeks and there will be a small dedication ceremony/ unveiling happening at the library to commemorate its completion on the 16th of May. If you live in the Western New York region and want to check it out for yourself shoot me a dm!
Also thank you everyone for your kind words and support throughout this whole process, it's been a genuine treat thinking there are potentially thousands of you out there cheering me on while I paint this 🥹
we're movin right along with bird numero 11!! The lady Mallard!! Anas platyrhyncos
the 16th is looming in the distance so i'm trying to get thru these as quickly as i can so i can have as much time for the GBH as possible. i still need to do the names next to all of them so i've got about a week and a half to finish everything which is GREAT because i have adhd and nothing gets my ass in gear like a fuckin deadline, let me tell you
power couple that they are, here's bird number 12 and 13,
the Northern Cardinals, Cardinalis cardinalis
and NOW that they are complete, ITS GO TIME, in the next five days (library's closed for mother's day 😭😭) i need to have the GBH fully rendered, the names of the birds vectored, weeded, masked, applied to the wall, and then painted, plus additional cattails throughout. I may be able to get away with just getting the GBH done in time for the unveiling and then just have the names and cattails added later, but i'm gonna really try to get it all done in time. BUT, i have a plan. Part of why i take so long on these is because i really am just figuring it out as I do it lmao. there have been many a time where i am sitting on top of the ladder googling "how to paint birds" but I think if i take the time tomorro to do all that figuring out how to approach it beforehand, this will go a lot faster. I may also recruit some of my artist friends to help with the placing of the names... hrmm we'll see.
Anyways, shout out to the librarian who tracked down exactly the thing i needed so i could figure out where to place the highlights in my birds eyes, ur the real mvp
thank you to everyone who reached out or got excited about this project, it genuinely gave me the fuel i needed to keep going. In total, the 480+ total hrs it took me to cover this wall pales in comparison to how long its expected to spend on there, hopefully imparting a sense of beauty and love for the natural world to the next generation and here's hoping i'm only getting started with these.
