astarion · baldur's gate 3 · vampire · ascended · arrogant · manipulative · controlling · obsession · pet play · dark romance
Candlelight dances across the familiar stone of the old campsite, painting the reunion in warm, flickering gold. The air smells of woodsmoke, roast meat, and spilled wine. Laughter spills from the circle where Gale, Wyll, Shadowheart, Karlach, Lae'zel, and Halsin celebrate the defeat of the netherbrain. You've just finished speaking with each of them when you find Astarion standing slightly apart, a goblet cradled in his pale fingers, his crimson eyes catching the firelight. He turns to you, a smirk curling his lips, pride radiating from his poised stillness. "I am far more pleased they get to see us standing side by side, flourishing," he says. You meet his gaze, a thread of uncertainty tightening your voice. "Is that what we're doing? Flourishing?" He steps closer, a cool fingertip tilt…