💡 what's a fun idea you had that you didn't have time to get to?
Ahhh there were a few more prompts for the Cozy December that I wanted to get to but didn’t end up having time for. And I had an idea for a oneshot about Andromeda and Astarion’s post-tadpole travels that I thought would be cute, but it never saw the light of day. Maybe next year!
🎶 any music/playlists you listened to while writing?
Yes! I listen to music alllll the time when writing, especially since my fics are all inspired by music. I have a specific BloodRose playlist that I listen to a lot, but I have a separate playlist for TMB with all the songs from every chapter. I also have a secret one that has the songs for future chapters. 😈 I haven’t added it to my pinned post yet, but I started putting one together for my modern AU fic, as well. My biggest musical influence has always been and will always be Tom. His music has been in TMB a few times and there will be more of it to come. And his music will also be in my modern AU often too. 🥰
💞 HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Ahhh I hope you have a happy New Year too!! I hope 2026 is kind to you. 🫂❤️
Just in case you already got one of these or want to skip one, I'm picking multiple. <3
Voice
4. Do they have an accent or dialect?
Hands
10. Do they need their hands occupied a lot? If so, what do they do?
Food
16. Do they prefer to eat alone or with company?
Sleep
23. Do they snore?
4. Do they have an accent or dialect?
I answered this one here! ❤️
10. Do they need their hands occupied a lot? If so, what do they do?
Yes, Andromeda prefers to have her hands occupied. She likes to keep busy. Most often, she will be playing her lyre or any other instrument she can get her hands on. She also really enjoys gardening, and loves digging in the dirt to plant all kinds of things for her to love and nourish. If she's sitting and talking with Astarion, she likes to hold his hands and will often mindlessly play with his fingers, or if they are cuddling, she will play with his curls.
16. Do they prefer to eat alone or with company?
Usually with company. If she's having a bad depression spell, then Andromeda prefers to be alone or only with Astarion. But she enjoys being surrounded by her close friends or family for meals.
I think I'm understanding this correctly as little writing prompts, so just sending you one. And, yes, absolutely biased by how much I love the genuinely mutually affectionate insults Andromeda and Astarion exchange in your fic. <3
22. nicknames
Ahhh thank you so much for sending this!! 💗💗 I may have gone a little off-track with this one, but I think it still fits the prompt alright! I didn't edit it or anything, so there might be some typos and errors and for that I do apologize! But I hope you enjoy this little bit of fluff between my cuties. 💗🫂 (Added a read more just because I don't know how not to be long-winded, I guess!)
🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿
Astarion was lying on his back, looking up at the ceiling of his tent as the sound of rain tapped on it in rapid succession. They were well on their journey to Baldur’s Gate, but they had to cut their travel for the day short due to a horrible storm. Andromeda had set up her own tent, but the elf had no idea why. He had barely settled himself on his bedroll to do some reading when the sweet bard slipped through the tent flap, absolutely drenched from the weather.
Some complaints were made about how soaking wet she was, getting water all over the place, but the truth was that he was quite pleased she had graced him with her presence on that particular evening.
However, at the present moment, Astarion was feeling rather annoyed. In spite of the fact that she had snuck into his tent, Andromeda was completely ignoring him in favor of burying her nose in a book.
Astarion huffed, rolling onto his side, his face set into a hard scowl. “Perhaps, since I allowed you to steal my shirt, you could stop ignoring me.” He chewed at his bottom lip just a little, running his pointer finger along the skin of the bard’s thigh. Since her clothes had been drenched in her jaunt to his tent, they were in a pile off to the side and she had slipped herself into one of his tunics.
“Don’t be a brat. I’m not ignoring you.” She didn’t even bother to look up but he could see she was smiling.
His frown only grew. “I’m not being a brat,” he snapped, pushing himself into an upright position. “Why did you even bother coming here if you’re simply going to pretend I’m not here?”
She chuckled, turning another page. “I’m reading, love.”
Astarion attempted to push the book closed, but she was not deterred by his actions whatsoever. Her musical, little laugh filled the tent as she snapped the book closed herself. “You’re living up to the brat title,” she said. “Why are you being so disagreeable this evening?”
He crossed his arms over his chest, lifting his chin. “I’m not.” When she opened her mouth to speak, he quickly cut her off. “Don’t call me a brat again!”
Andromeda giggled, but she kept quiet, instead leaning forward to press a kiss to his cool cheek. He sighed. “Fine. Perhaps I’m being a bit of a brat. But only because you’re being an utter drip.” He smirked when she feigned upset.
“A brat and an utter drip,” she said. “What a pair we are.”
He chuckled and sighed again. “I apologize, love.” He paused. “But perhaps you could put the book down for the evening in favor of something a little more fun?”
He sat up a little straighter as she put her book off to the side. “What did you have in mind?”
He bit his lip. “I thought perhaps we could have a cuddle and talk?”
The look of adoration on her face was one that would be burned into his memories for a thousand years. Perhaps longer.
Leaning forward to lock her arms around his neck, the sweet bard nuzzled her nose against his. “Perhaps I should call you an utter drip if that’s your idea of a fun evening.” She kissed him. “But I love it.”
As she kissed him again, he found it becoming a little more teeth than lips because he couldn’t stop himself from smiling. If she minded, she didn’t say so. “Yes, darling, you’re making me boring, I’m afraid,” Astarion said as the two got snuggled down on his bedroll. Andromeda was lying on her back and he settled himself so he could rest his ear directly over her heart, the rhythmic sound making its way directly into his own undead heart.
“That’s alright. I like boring,” she said, stroking her fingers through his curls, always careful not to pull any knots.
“Of course you do, my sweet. You’re boring.”
Her body shook with laughter. “I know. It’s how I’ve always been, I’m afraid. You can expect a lot of quiet nights like this in the future.”
Astarion lifted his head so he could look into the eyes of his darling love. He still wasn’t entirely sure what to call what they had between them, but he knew one thing was for certain: he liked the idea of a future together even if it scared him. Licking his lips, Astarion pressed a gentle kiss to Andromeda’s cheek before moving to her mouth. “Perhaps I like boring too,” he said quietly.
That look of adoration graced her beautiful features once more as she pulled the vampire into a tight hug. “Perfect,” she said softly.
When the hug ended, Astarion settled himself against Andromeda’s chest once more and the couple spent the rest of the evening giggling and whispering until the sun came up.
Sending you a few in case you get any duplicates, or just don't want to answer a particular one. <3
4: If your Tav was a companion, where would they be found?
17: Do they enjoy life as an adventurer?
26: What animal best represents your Tav?
4: If your Tav was a companion, where would they be found?
In the grove with Alfira, helping her work on The Weeping Dawn!
17: Do they enjoy life as an adventurer?
Yes! Andromeda loves a good adventure. She spends her time adventuring around Faerûn before getting kidnapped by the mind flayers. Although she does long for some quiet normalcy and a place to call her own.
26: What animal best represents your Tav?
A mourning dove. They are typically symbols of hope, which is a huge part of Andromeda's story. They also mate for life, and her and Astarion are soulmates who are together in every life, even if they don't remember it.
Picking multiple possibilities as usual from that ask meme. Also, I kind of already know/can guess the answer to the last one, but I needed at least one music question on here. <3
🔮What's your favorite plot twist you've ever written?
💻What do you write your stories on? Laptop, phone, paper, etc.
🎵Do you make playlists for your fics?
🔮 What's your favorite plot twist you've ever written?
I don't know if it really counts as a plot twist, cause I don't know if anyone who reads The Melancholy Bard was expecting it, but the reveal of how Ned died is what I would choose. It's obviously a really key piece in who Andromeda is as a person and I was really proud of how that whole reveal, and chapter in general, turned out.
💻 What do you write your stories on? Laptop, phone, paper, etc.
Mostly on my laptop! However I do jot some ideas in my phone if I'm not near my computer and I actually got a little moleskin notebook that I now use to plot out ideas just because it feels nostalgic. I used to carry around a moleskin with all my story ideas when I was in college.
🎵 Do you make playlists for your fics?
The Melancholy Bard has its own playlist! I'm sure that's not surprising since there is a song for every chapter. Right now it's kind of an admitted mess though because I don't have all the songs I want to use decided. So, there are a lot of "This song makes me think of Andromeda!" etc. that have been thrown on there in no particular order because I think they could make good chapter songs in the future. Once the fic is done/the playlist is more organized, I might share it. Haha.
Don't quite have the spoons for a proper read and commentary on your latest fic chapter, so thank you for reblogging an ask meme so I can do some type of friendly interaction. <3 Going with three questions again, since picking my favourite number would be overkill but I still want to give you choice.
🍐how do they typically dress? does their wardrobe lean more towards practicality or aesthetics?
🍐do they sleep well at night?
🍐do they have any habits that aren't particularly self-destructive, just maybe odd?
🍐 how do they typically dress? does their wardrobe lean more towards practicality or aesthetics?
Andromeda is definitely more practical when it comes to wardrobe. She likes fancy things, and leans into those kind of outfits a bit more when Astarion gets his hands on her wardrobe, but outfits she chooses for herself tend to have more function over fashion. But in my 100% unbiased opinion, she makes everything look cute.
🍐 do they sleep well at night?
Pre-BG3 events, not at all! Whether it's trancing or sleeping, she's pretty much haunted with the memories of what happened to her parents, what happened to Ned, and her time under Cicero's control. In the midst of BG3 events, it's very mixed. She rests better when Astarion is by her side. Post-BG3 events, she gets the best rest she's had in years. Not that she isn't still plagued with some nightmares and bad memories. She certainly is. But having Astarion to lean on for comfort during those times (and also snuggles from Scratch and Screech), is a huge help.
🍐 do they have any habits that aren't particularly self-destructive, just maybe odd?
I'm bringing up my olive fact again. 😅 But the fact that she will actively put a food she hates on her plate just to feel closer to her parents because her mother loved olives so much would probably be seen as odd by some. Especially because even though it comforts her in a way, it also makes her very sad. I also haven't brought this up in my fic yet, and it's not really a spoiler, but it will be mentioned at some point: the dagger she always carries on her person is the same dagger she was forced to kill Ned with.
Thank you so much for asking! I appreciate you so much. Also, I love that you used pears because these are asks about Andromeda. 🥲💗🫂
As usual, I will pick multiple questions for the ask meme you reblogged, in case someone also sent you the same one or you just don't want to answer a particular one. <3 Also, the emojis as bullet points are just for the whimsy.
🦇 your preferred writing fonts
🦇a trope you’re really into right now
🦇favorite weather for writing
🦇 your preferred writing fonts
I don't know that I have a preferred! I typically write in Calibri, but that's just because it's the default for Word and I'm too lazy to change it.
🦇a trope you’re really into right now
I do really always like "Enemies to Lovers", however, I saw something recently that was "Annoyances to Lovers" and it fits Andromeda and Astarion so perfectly and I've been kind of obsessed with the idea ever since.
🦇favorite weather for writing
Any rainy weather, not just because it typically keeps indoors. But I've always found rain to be soothing when I'm trying to sleep or trying to concentrate, so I feel like it helps my writing flow.
Thank you so much for asking! I love the little bats!! 🥲💗
Giving you multiple so you can pick or choose, or in case you already got sent some of these. :)
🍄 ⇢ share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings
🦴 ⇢ is there a piece of media that inspires your writing?
🧩 ⇢ what will make you click away from a fanfiction immediately?
🍄 ⇢ share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings
Do Andromeda and Astarion count? Cause I'm going to pick them. 😅 Andromeda's favorite food is pears. Astarion starts carrying them in his pack because he discovers this and he says it's just because it's something he can give her to win her favor. But he actually secretly likes how happy she gets whenever she is presented with a pear. (Also, when I play the game, the only things that are ever in Astarion's camp supply pack are wine and pears.)
🦴 ⇢ is there a piece of media that inspires your writing?
Not really just one piece, but my current fic is very inspired by the music I like to listen to. Each chapter is centered around a song and I find some way to fit it into the chapter whether it's just a little bit or quite a lot. It's been a lot of fun for me to write about Andromeda and Astarion and also share some of the music I love, cause I really like sharing music with people. 🥰
🧩 ⇢ what will make you click away from a fanfiction immediately?
Certain things definitely would, but I'm very good at reading tags so if I see things that are going to be an immediate nope from me, I just keep scrolling and avoid clicking at all.
