I'd like to think that since people are always changing, that maybe that would apply to Ascended Astarion as well.
Nothing huge or recognizable right away, but maybe after a year or two, his sharp edges soften up a little. He thanks his staff at the palace for an excepting job well done. A few of his more dramatic theatrics may make a return during one of his parties, then start coming back up a bit more because he's grown fond of them and the reactions they get from people. He gets softer with Tav/Durge because that's what he wants one day, then finds that he wishes for more of it when he gets a taste. Maybe he finds his old camp clothes in the back of his wardrobe, putting them on in a fit of errant nostalgia, and actually finds a strange sort of comfort in the familiar, worn threads.
The rush of so much power all at once during the ritual would definitely be enough to illicit the change in him that it does. But people are in constant change, and eventually I think being as cold and distant as he can be after the ritual would eventually become tiring, most especially if Tav/Durge was genuinely loving and supportive for him during their whole journey
I just really like the thought of a softer A! Astarion once the shine of the ritual has worn off
Unfinished WIP that I just lost steam for. Made after going with my Aunt to see Journey and Def Leppard in concert. It was badass. I think Star would like Def Leppard ❤️
Jenner: (top left) Mika's eldest son from a previous relationship. They were separated in the chaos of a Gnoll attack when he was thirteen, but found each other many years later while adventuring. He's now 75
Astarion: (back middle; BG3 love) Mika fell hard and fast for her adorably silly and sassy fop, and gods know she is never letting him go
Daerran: (held by Astarion) Mika's youngest son with Astarion, playful but also the most chill of all her children, his favorite time is whenever his papa has the energy to let him ride on his shoulders
Dawn: (bottom left) Mika's only daughter with Astarion, and named for how much brighter his days got when she arrived, if she had a theme song, it would definitely be 'Oops! I Did It Again' with how many suitors try their luck with her and fail
Fenrys: (bottom middle) The middle child with middle child energy, Fenrys took after his father the most of all their children. He refuses to leave home unless he knows he's looking his best, and gods help you if you're the reason his new doublet has a stain!
Mika: (bottom right) Life for her had been anything but easy, but when your natural personality is 'bubbly with dark undertones', it's hard to keep her down for long. Life is anything but simple when you've gone and married a vampire and had three dhampir children, but at least it keeps her on her toes. And you know, the love helps too XDDD
Things that have happened during my BG3 playthru with my friend @lucifer-morningstars-wife
~~~~~***~~~~~
Me: -a bard with Astarion in tow- Okay, you buy some good things from Daerryth, and we're gonna head up to the Zhent storage and grab all the things
LMW: -a paladin with Gale at the Myconid colony- Okay! yay stuff!
Me: Okay let's see, it's around... I think up here, and- Oh! Oh shit, what!? No! Uh!
LMW: ....you okay over there?
Me: UHM! MAYBE! OH GOD WHY!? WHY ARE YOU A THING!? WHY ARE MINOTAURS A THING!?
LMW: Do you need help?
Me: No, no, I-I think we're fine- OH GOD WHY! THE BLOND PATROL NEEDS HELP!! I FORGOT THEY JUMP!!
LMW: -sigh- okay, we're coming. Try not to die before we get there
Me: NO PROMISES! YOLO BITCHES!!
LMW: How do you get yourself in these situations!? You've played this before!
Me: I FORGOT THEY WERE HERE!!
Sharing a peek at my current WIP that I started writing in an effort to distract myself from the actual horrors of real life
Not sure if I should post the full thing, but let me know if there's interest
It was a difficult question to answer. How does one go about feeding so many spawn without giving themselves away, and drawing the wrong attention? Unfortunately it wasn’t a question they were going to be able to answer in a single night either. Feeling a familiar set of hands settling on his shoulders and giving them a firm rub, he relaxed slightly, glad that she was there with him to keep him grounded when he needed it. “Alright... While it’s far from ideal, I suppose for now we have no choice but to continue as you have been. Though keep your feedings to simply wild creatures. Hook horrors and the like, for example. Do your very best to avoid attacking other inhabitants of the Underdark for now.”
“So no Duergar then? Gnomes? Drow?”
“None. No Drow, no deep gnomes, no duergar, and no other inhabitants of similar intelligence and organization. And, as I said, that’s strictly ‘for now’. Taking on a project like ours may necessitate an alliance of convenience or two, so the last thing we should be doing is making enemies while we’re still this vulnerable. Now if you’re attacked... Well, we can hardly be blamed for defending ourselves, and if we get the benefit of a meal in the process...”
The six of them looked at each other, likely searching for any objections to the idea. Frankly Astarion was surprised there didn’t seem to be even a little push back on the idea. Though considering the putrid swill Cazador had force fed them, healthy animals and creatures were still a marked improvement. “With that settled, we have two immediate objectives: First, we’ll need to start creating something of a census. A way for us to keep track of the other spawn, and since we’ll be needing to make use of such things in the very near future, we’ll need to have a working list of all of their former professions. The second is far more simple, yet just as important. I want to address them, and tell them all of this. We need to drive home the fact that we are free spawn. They have the right to leave if they wish, but they need to know that ultimately if they stay, they will be a part of something.”
“Wait, you want to let them leave? Just like that?”
“Of course not! But remember what it felt like when we knew we didn’t have a choice in the matter. If you take away the choice, then that’s all you want. What we’re offering, is safety in numbers, and a chance to simply live among others who understand their condition. It won’t be perfect, but when put up against being held in a cage and neglected for decades, roughing it for a while as we build a place of our own sounds akin to fucking paradise!”
Giving his shoulders one last gentle squeeze, Mika backed away as he stood once more. Gods she was so proud of him just then. He’d come so far, made so much progress toward actually claiming his own life and body, his own future for the first time in two centuries. Of course, there was still a way to go, but she was more than confident that he could make it. Watching as they began to make their way back outside, Mika followed closely behind Astarion, ready to act however he needed as he stood to take the reins and lead.
