I've been correcting my Baldur's Gate 3 novelization fix ; so here's a few of my favorite Nithiri & Astarion moments I've written :
"May the Archdemonic Pantheon grant me patience, for if it grants me strength, I might break his nose."
Nithiri had to force herself to resist the urge to bare her teeth in a look of suspicion, and she chose instead to obey with stiff steps, her tail lashing forcefully against her ankles, betraying her apprehension. Astarion crushed it under his foot, causing the young woman to flinch, and wrap it around her leg, fully understanding the message the vampire had just painfully conveyed to her.
She mumbled,
“It’s just… You don’t look well, that’s all.”
Gale blinked before laughing:
“I’ve heard better compliments.
—It’s not a criticism… I’m just worried, that’s all… Karlach is stable, but you…
—By all the gods! If you want to keep devouring each other with your eyes, do it while walking!”
Nithiri jumped, and shot an angry glance at Astarion, all the while noting that behind him, Karlach and Shadowheart were struggling to hide their laughter. The young occultist retorted:
“All right, all right, O patience incarnate…!”
“I don’t expect any sympathy from you.” His gaze lingered on Nithiri for a long moment. “But I want to warn you—I’ve been thinking about this for several days now, ever since we’ve been on the road and Baldur’s Gate has drawn nearer. It’s not just the Illithids who lurk in the night.
“…Watch my back, and I’ll watch yours,” Nithiri finally replied.
For a moment, Astarion seemed to weigh what the young woman had just said to him, and for a few seconds Nithiri thought she detected a hint of vulnerability in the red eyes that were staring intently at her. Finally, the vampire shrugged and gave Gale a predatory smile:
“Oh, if it’s no trouble for anyone, these are backs I won’t tire of watching.”
Nithiri was in the middle of concocting one of her lies when he leaped across the gap between the two boats. The two crews exchanged hostile glances, with the exception of Astarion, who was smiling with the air of someone plotting a dirty trick. Watching him move, as lithe as a cat, Nithiri immediately understood what he was doing: he was preparing to push the Duergar into the water.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Caught off guard, Astarion paused, and she heard him grumble in response:
“My dear, I finally understand why the wizard suits you so well. He’s quite bland, just like you.”
“Perhaps they’re minstrels?” Nithiri suggested. "Let’s go take a look—stay on your guard.”
“Do we really have to let the woman who looks most like a devil straight out of the Nine Hells pass by?’" Astarion frowned. “Don’t take this the wrong way, my dear, in the light of day you have a certain charm; however, if I saw you emerging from a haunted forest in the dead of night, I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t try to drive an arrow through your skull.
‘I’m always delighted when you show such concern for me, Astarion.’
‘You’re welcome.’”
“You had quite a heated discussion last night with our magician. It’s a real tragedy—to think that people pay to see plays in five acts when a run-down inn can sometimes offer even more gripping entertainment. ”
Nithiri stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face him.
“Were you listening to us? Don’t you have anything better to do than eavesdrop on other people’s conversations?”
Astarion put his hand to his heart, looking indignant:
“Me? What a ridiculous idea! … I just have keen hearing, that’s all. I was merely taking advantage of the excellent acoustics of our refuge.” His feigned expression of indignation had already melted away, replaced by his smile. “And how could I resist? A magician torn between his devotion to his goddess, yet consumed by love for another? It’s delightful.”
“Other people’s lives aren’t here for your entertainment,” she retorted, clenching her jaw, her freckles indistinguishable
because of her blush.
“Of course they are,” the vampire replied without hesitation.
Astarion twirled the key between his fingers, looking pleased. They walked away, far from prying ears and scrutinizing eyes.
“My dear,” Astarion said to Nithiri. “Will you come with me to explore these mysterious chambers that are just waiting for our little, finger-filled hands?
“As tempting as that proposal is, Astarion, I think I’d rather take a stroll around the Chionthar.”
The vampire looked genuinely disappointed to miss an opportunity to get up to mischief with the occultist. Noticing this, Nithiri gave him an amused smile:
“Don’t be disappointed, Astarion; I’m sure Gale will be happy to accompany you. Aren’t you curious to discover this chamber of horrors?
“Oh… Well, I thought you’d ask me to accompany you.” Now it was the magician’s turn to be taken aback.
“As Z’rell pointed out, the magician has already been of service to you, and I hate coming in second,” Astarion grumbled.
“I need your help. There’s still something to explore from the balcony. A facade to climb.”
“A facade?”
“The walls are full of handholds, but let’s just say that with our wizard and our cleric, whose armor isn’t really suited for this kind of excursion…”
“And so you thought of me.”
“Of course. You remind me of a nimble little monkey.”
“Thank you, Astarion, I’m touched.”
“You just… licked it? A dead spider. You just licked it.” Gale was deeply repulsed and turned toward Astarion. “Did that just happen?
—What can I say, my dear, you said it yourself: in this group, we all have… very particular appetites. ”
But the young woman could barely hear them. A long shiver had just run down her spine to her tail, which immediately stiffened. The taste of the meat had just left her breathless, as if after a particularly powerful orgasm.
Seeing her tail stiffen, Karlach couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“No… Don’t tell me that little piece of meat is what’s doing this to you?
—If what I think is happening to you is actually happening, and it’s because you licked a dead spider, maybe it’s time for you and me to go our separate ways.”
Beneath the jest, it was obvious that there was a slight undertone of truth in Gale’s retort.
“Of course it’s not the spider, that’s ridiculous,” Nithiri rolled her eyes. “The meat is soaked in succubus saliva. I suppose that’s how Yurgir kept his pet tamed ”
She looked at her fingers, covered in a pinkish liquid, and licked them clean, trying to hide another unmentionable shiver.
Gayle shook his head, wrinkling his nose. Nithiri pulled one of the vials from her bag, removed the stopper with her teeth, and squeezed the piece of meat hard to fill the small vial with the pink liquid.
“I don’t know why you feel the need to collect succubus saliva, but I feel the need to remind you that in our group, some of us are very light sleepers and have very keen hearing,” Astarion remarked sardonically.
“Stop being so perverted,” she replied in a tone that betrayed that she had found the remark funny—or that she had perhaps considered a more recreational use for the substance.
Bonus : not quite an interaction between the two of them but I like it nonetheless
Faced with Gale’s silence, Astarion’s smile only grew wider.
“Even an idiot couldn’t deny that she’s really pretty.”
“Is there anything I can do for you, Astarion?” Gale replied simply, evasively, trying to summon his usual courtesy.
“I’m just saying I can see she has certain charms, that’s all. Don’t be jealous. After all… You’d have to be in love to be jealous, wouldn’t you?”
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