astarion's thoughts on arlis AND as a bonus his thoughts on laera pls
𝑨𝑺𝑲 𝑨𝑩𝑶𝑼𝑻 𝑨𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑶𝑵'𝑺 𝑹𝑬𝑳𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑷𝑺…
❝ What do I think of Arlis? ❞ The question is met with one of his own as he casts a knowing gaze over to his companion. ❝ There are many traits I can assign Arlis. She's distant, resilient, dangerously cunning, and sorely lacking in people skills. Like quite a few other people I know, actually. Even so, she's incredibly resourceful and dependable in all matter of situations. Admittedly… I've come to appreciate her as something of a friend. She's honest, not just with herself but with me as well, and I like to believe that despite her reservations, she's willing to put her trust in me. ❞ His thoughts briefly flash to the moment she sought his confidence; her dark gift revealed to all, and it was him she chose. The gesture moved him then as it does now to think about.
❝ I seem to attract a type! Laera isn't so different, in fact. Unmovable as a tree stump in her convictions, but I suppose her unwillingness to budge on anything proves useful when she puts herself between a horde of goblins and us. ❞ He chuckles, continuing on with a cock of his head. ❝ Another resilient soul; I knew it then when I found her in the woods, and Laera continues to be fortuitously steadfast… She's staunchly loyal and unbearably willful. ❞ Astarion pauses in his thoughts, long a drawn out before speaking his next words in contemplative quiet. ❝ We've become close, she and I; I enjoy the time we spend together. ❞ Lips purse together, returning to his gaze to some unobvious spot That is all he has to say on that.
lol he says all these things about arlis, but i swear it's coming from a place of endearment. he recognises a lot of himself, his actions and motivations in both arlis and laera, and i think that's why he's drawn to them both. he might not be there yet, but arlis coming to confide him has perhaps changed his perspective on the party. they're not there just to benefit each other in the single goal they share, but they're also forming meaningful friendships! honestly, i think arlis and astarion have a lot of potential to become close. like… ' i will stand by you no matter what comes. ' type of close, and i'm HERE for it.
additionally, about laera, he is wrestling with what he feels for her and what she feels for him. laera has been very transparent about her feelings towards him, and it terrifies him. he's been conditioned to treat 'relationships' as meaningless, and without emotional attachment, but he can't deny that he's also drawn to her. i've always said their relationship goes in reverse: they develop a strong physical attraction toward each other and then all the emotional sorting comes later lol. it's daunting for astarion to navigate his own freedom and it's possible he might not even realise that if he wants, he can choose to love someone. the bes thing laera has offered him thus far is patience, and he's quietly grateful for that.
