Escaping for a Moment
(Ernest Sinclaire x MC*Catherine Mills) in a Choices Desire and Decorum drabble
Thirty Kisses in Thirty Days Challenge with the prompt: forbidden lovers sharing a kiss in the shadows
Not quite sure who to tag for this one since it has been so long since I last wrote a drabble for this pair. Plus in cleaning out my drafts folder I lost my permatag list 🤦🏻♀️Tagging some who won't be too angry at me for doing so, LOL! @hopelessromantic1352 @twinkleallnight @tessa-liam @choicesficwriterscreations @krsnlove
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"Enjoying yourself, my dear?"
Lady Catherine Mills stiffened at the sound of her fiancé's voice.
There was nothing that made her skin crawl quite like Tristan Richard's oily tone.
A scathing insult sat on the tip of her tongue to give the odious man the set down he so rightly deserved. One glance at her grandmother's stern demeanor instead had her forcing a smile.
"I am. Thank you, your grace."
The Duke of Karlington leered at her. He purposely moved closer and placed her hand within the bend of his arm. He enjoyed watching her suffer being trapped with him.
The Dowager Countess beamed at the pair. She was pleased beyond measure that her natural granddaughter had managed to capture such a prized suitor. There wasn't a young lady here who had done so well in such little time.
Nor with such a questionable background.
"You should dance and show her off, your grace." She prodded.
"What a marvelous notion." Tristan remarked.
He placed his hand over Catherine's, smiling all the more with her trying to avoid his touch.
"Shall we show them how it's done, my lady?"
Catherine knew she must say yes. It galled her to have to spend a single moment in this man's presence much less dance with him. The thought of his hands upon her body made her wish to find a chamber pot to wretch in.
If only she was allowed to marry the one man whom she so deeply loved. Mr. Ernest Sinclair was so many things to Catherine. He'd been her savior, her friend, and finally the one who stirred her soul like no other.
Why had they tarried so long that night before sharing the joyful news of their engagement? If they'd only found her grandmother sooner, Catherine would be eagerly taking a turn on the dance floor with her fiancé, Mr. Sinclair, instead of the fiend pretending to be a gentleman at her side.
Life seemed determined to be unfair for the young lady. Not only was she denied her true love, she also was denied even a glimpse of him. For reasons she assumed were because she was promised to another, Mr. Sinclair had yet to make an appearance this evening.
If it were not for Ms. Parsons and Prince Hamid being there to bolster her spirits, Catherine would most likely have dissolved into tears. Her heart ached for Ernest. She was near the point of throwing decorum out the window and running off to Gretna Green with him.
She no longer cared if her beloved father had intended to leave Edgewater to her instead of her stepbrother. Mr. Marlcaster wasn't a bad sort. Catherine could see that he truly had a kind heart when not under the thumb of his mother.
If her dear Briar believed he was all that was good in this world, then Catherine couldn't doubt it. Her friend had a way of seeing one's true nature. Mr. Marlcaster might fumble the finances and such, but he would be a good steward to the people of Edgewater.
She knew if she was to run away with Ernest, scandal would be forever associated with her name. Did it matter though? Her questionable birth already tainted her reputation, though she had no control over those circumstances. At least the new gossip would be something she could happily live with.
"Lady Catherine?" Tristan hissed. "Are you not paying attention?"
Catherine jerked her head away from the feeling of his breath on her ear.
The Dowager laughed at the notion.
"She is most likely lost in thought over the notion of marrying you, your grace."
Tristan's smile was one most ladies deemed charming.
Catherine found little to like in it.
"Is that true, my dear? Are you thinking about our wedding?" His voice lowered for her ears alone. "Or is your baseborn nature concentrating on our wedding night?"
Catherine jerked her hand from his. Trembling with suppressed rage, she pleaded for them to excuse her.
Blinded by angry tears, she wound her way through the crush of guests in search of an escape. Since the retiring room was filled with giggling ladies, she next hoped to find a quiet corner outside to try and calm down.
She shook her head when Prince Hamid asked if she needed him. After tripping her way to a side door, Catherine slipped outside and rushed deep into the shadows.
Her exit was halted by a pair of strong arms wrapping around her.
"Catherine?" Mr. Sinclair said softly to try and shush her cries.
"Ernest!" She twirled in his arms, her hands cupping his face as her lips immediately sought his.
Ernest deepened the kiss, holding her even closer within his embrace.
Catherine broke away to catch her breath. "I thought you were not coming."
"I could not stay away." He caressed her cheek. "I do not care what anyone thinks. I refuse to stand by and see you married to such a man as Duke Richards."
Though she couldn't see him well, his voice made her heart sing with his next words.
"You were created for me, Catherine. You are to be no one's wife but mine."
She sighed into the heat of his next kiss. Her hands moved along his broad shoulders, glorying in the fact that he was truly here and still wanted her for his own.
"My love," she breathed as his lips brushed kisses down her neck, "I want nothing more than to be Mrs. Sinclair."
"And so you shall." He fervently promised. "We will find a way out of your betrothal. The Duke of Karlington will not lay another finger on you."
The mention of her fiancé's name forced Catherine to reluctantly pull away.
"I should return before my grandmother sends the duke for me."
"I'll escort you back." Ernest pressed a kiss to the back of her hand before releasing her.
She took his arm, leaning closer than appropriate. She needed a few more moments near him if she was to endure the rest of the ball.
Once inside, notes were played to signal that the Allemande was about to begin.
"Would you do me the honor, my lady?" Mr. Sinclair asked in that proud proper tone of his.
Catherine looked up at him. Her eyes traced his handsome features in the nearby candlelight. Her first genuine smile of the night appeared upon her slightly kiss swollen lips. She could continue to play the part of a respectable noble as long as he was near.
"Thank you, Mr. Sinclair." She said with a polite tilt of her head. "I would love to."
As he took her in his arms to dance, Catherine felt both her hope and courage return.
She would find a way to freedom and celebrate it with the man at her side.
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https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Ki8d-vJU1/?igsh=N2ViNmM2MDRjNw==
… opinions on a pirate au? Just one more au?
There are four things that every pirate prays to. No gods, no masters, no kings, but the laws of sailing, things the cannot be left up to chance. The sea, the wind that carries them over her, the stars overhead that chart their path, and death. It's the pirates that pray for a pay day that really get into trouble. Ghost has never had that issue. He likes guarantees, likes knowing that there are constants(the sea, the stars, the air in his lungs, the long sleep waiting for him at the end of it all), likes days without surprises.
Except that Ghost has already met one of the four laws. He's found himself in graves both watery and dry, and every time he's managed to cheat death out of what they're deserved. Every time he's managed to outwit, out maneuver, out gun the very thing that waits for every pirate. He won't say how, finds the scars over his lips sewn shut every time he attempts to, but it's well known. Ghost has beat death, maybe not for good, but enough to know what's waiting for him on the other side. Enough to know that laws of nature don't follow human constraints, and that the men he's aligned himself with are meant for more than just this.
Enough to find the island he's been seeing in his dreams and unearth the only thing pirates hope against. He can call you whatever he likes when he cracks open the heavy wooden lid of the chest you were buried in: Greed, Envy, Violent passion, passing fancies, the first on a long list of things that doom pirates to the shore. You call yourself inevitable, the same as any of the laws, and you've just found four new vessels tailor made for the ideals they pray to.
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For context: Traveling through Cania disguised as devils, we encountered a Rakshasa in a cave we took shelter in, who offered us a stew made of human meat.
DM: Tabaxi Rogue, as you try some of this human stew you flash back to your childhood, the happiest moments of your life, you are overcome with nostalgia. It tastes amazing.
Hollow One Warlock: I’m gonna steal a bite.
DM: You too have a transcendent experience as you flash back to your childhood, the times before The Incident, and your chest fills with warmth. It is the best thing you’ve ever eaten.
Human Cleric: I can see these two having fucking Ratatouille flashbacks and I am DEEPLY UNCOMFORTABLE.
—-
Tabaxi Rogue: (to the Rakshasa) That was incredible! Would you be willing to give us the recipe so we can make it ourselves?
Human Cleric: …I am sleeping with one eye open from now on.
—-
Rakshasa: Hey I heard you’re allergic to human meat, so I made you a vegetable dish. Is that alright?
Human Cleric: Oh, yes, I suppose that’s fine.
DM: He hands you a bowl of popcorn.
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Astarion's Star Elf Background Headcanons
In collaboration with the lovely @spacebarbarianweird!
A bit of a less popular take on Astarion’s background headcanons—I know it is generally accepted that he is originally a moon elf from the Faerunian upper class, but, between in-game trivia and developing my own stories, a different idea came up.
I’ll outline why I think the Star Elf headcanon fits the sassy elf, and how it plays into his storyline.
Obviously, this is all done for the shits and giggles, so every headcanon is valid, and I’d love to hear about different takes on Astarion’s origins!
Race: Star Elves
Star Elves, or Ruar-tel-quessir, have only recently returned to Faerun due to repeated attacks by an extra-planar entity on their home-realm of Sildëyuir.
Because of their prolonged absence and reclusive communities, Star Elves are not familiar with most of Toril’s customs and history. In Sildëyuir, they had no contact with most other species (such as humans, dwarves, halflings, gnomes, etc.), and they prefer to keep to themselves once in Faerun too.
They are particularly wary of humans, as their misuse of magic and warmongering tendencies were what caused Star Elves to flee Toril in the first place.
They consider themselves better than most other races, only getting along with other elves. They fear for Moon Elves and half-elves who mix with other species, and they consider them overly-generous and too naive.
As such, Star Elves tend to come across as aloof and cautious. (I know this may not sound like Astarion at all, but bear with me).
Their moral alignment is purely chaotic, with a majority of them being in the chaotic good or neutral categories.
Physically, Star Elves share some traits with their fellow Moon Elves: light skin (check) and gold, red or silver (check) hair.
However, Star Elves have grey or violet-coloured eyes with gold flecks in them (imagine an Astarion with violet eyes!).
Star Elves are also taller than other elves, standing between 5½ to 6 ft tall, with a slender build.
They are also considered extremely beautiful by human standards, much more so than any other type of elf.
Astarion’s Background as a Star Elf:
Right, let’s talk about objective things first: physicality.
Astarion fits the Star Elf type quite well:
He has silver hair, light skin (given he is still the palest of the bunch even after he is well fed).
He fits the height range at 5 ft 9.
He has a slender body (a bit too built for an elf, but that is likely Larian knowing what sells),
Most importantly, he is strikingly handsome. Exceedingly so, more than most other elves in the game.
As there is no confirmation about pre-vampirism eye colour, in my head he used to have violet eyes. I think that would have made him stand out in Baldurian society even more.
Which gets me to the more subjective part of personality and backstory.
Aloof and cautious may not be the first qualities that come to mind thinking of Mr Sass, but work with me.
Someone aloof is not overly friendly, being cool and distant instead. Is Astarion friendly? I mean, genuinely friendly to people, and not forcing himself to look eager because he is forced to do so by Cazador or by circumstances?
He threatens Tav as soon as they meet, is snarky with everyone else for a good portion of Act 1 (and with some even during Act 2 and 3), and at the end of game party he keeps mostly to himself.
Ultimately, Tav is the only one he seems comfortable enough to be open and friendly with, and that requires a lot of trust, care and work (especially for good-aligned Tavs).
As for the cautious side, he is a bloodthirsty little shit who loves a good fight, but he doesn’t strike me as someone who would throw himself into desperate situations (without proper compensation at least).
He disapproves of Tav doing things for free or forcing him into situations where the risks are too great, often stating that ignoring those needing help is the easiest thing, they just need to ‘look away and keep walking’.
His inherent racism towards other races (ehem, gnomes) can be a result of spending his early years in a very secluded environment.
He presents himself as someone loving life luxuries, but I think that's his Baldur's Gate, more constructed persona. He seems just as happy to fondle about in the dirt TWICE, despite claiming he is not used to it. Maybe he's not as upper class as he wants to appear.
Granted, these traits may be a result of him being a glorified sex slave subject to unimaginable torture for 200 years, but I think his need to be have the upper hand in power dynamics existed before his undeath too.
The chaotic nature is evident, and I headcanon he starts off as chaotic neutral, starts leaning into the evil side as he gets corrupted by power first and by abuse after, then he can either get back to chaotic neutral with a good-aligned companion or become fully chaotic evil as the Ascendant.
And this leads me to the actual backstory.
Astarion’s Backstory:
Larian originally set Astarion out to be a noble, then changed his background to charlatan and, in some lost character sheet, courtesan (fancy type of prostitute). I’ll stick with the final charlatan/courtesan version.
Astarion was born somewhere in Faerun in a community of Star Elves.
His family was of poor background, having fallen out with the leaders of the enclave.
That, paired with the isolation of the community, prompted Astarion to leave his home in his early 20s, slightly earlier than usual for elves.
He wanted more from life than being stuck in a reclusive society and being looked down upon from others. He wanted to live a comfortable existence, be wealthy, be admired, and to achieve that he needed one thing: power.
He headed to Baldur’s Gate (convincing fellow travellers to let him on their carts, horses, etc.) with nothing more than the clothes on his person, attracted by its reputation as a multicultural hub brimming with opportunities. He did forge some documents proving he already had some basic qualification to enter law school (not sure reclusive elves issue any), completed his studies and started a career as magistrate.
During this time, he quickly realised how his looks were one of his biggest strengths in forging alliances. He had been complimented before, but most Star Elves are beautiful, so he was not as universally admired as he was in Baldur’s Gate. He used and abused this knowledge, flirting with individuals from many other races (gnomes aside, he has standards) and genders, enjoying the perks his smooth persona got him (money, status, promotions) and revelling in the adulation of his admirers.
He became even more power hungry, signing laws because they would benefit him or his upper class acquaintances rather than the general population. He was ready to do anything to achieve his goals.
It was in one of the many soirees he attended that he came across Cazador (or rather, Cazador noticed him). The Vampire Lord saw an astonishingly handsome, young and inexperienced elf who could work most people around his manicured slim fingers and immediately singled him out. Studied him. I don’t think he introduced himself before turning him; rather, he gathered information about him via his connections and learned he was an up and coming magistrate, an outsider, conveniently with no family or stable relationships who would miss him or go look for him should he disappear.
We know Cazador is a machiavellian villain, so he probably found a way to convince Astarion (through a bribe and pulling at his dislike of lower class vagrants) into signing a law forcibly evicting the Gur from the land they settled on, on the basis of it belonging to some patriar or noble and therefore their permanence being illegal. Cazador knew retaliation would be swift, and I bet he probably even had someone tell the Gur which magistrate had them kicked out.
Cazador waited nearby while Astarion was being brutally assaulted, chasing off the Gur thugs to claim his prized future spawn. He didn’t need permission to bite Astarion and turn him, but he asked likely because he knew he would never turn down a chance at eternal life and because it would be another way to torment him later (‘Remember boy, I gave you the grace of my gift, you begged for it!’). Probably, Astarion’s last words as a living elf were, ‘Do…any…thing…please’.
After becoming a spawn and suffering centuries of abuse, Astarion forgot about his past, himself and his family. He doesn’t even remember what type of elf he is (Moon or Star). His parents may still be alive, but with their life being secluded from the outside world, it is unlikely he will come across them in their lifetime.
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