#astarion x elayne

[awesomechocolatesauce]

"Y'all would really kick babies just so Astarion would approve."

Um...no? Do you realize you don't have to be pure evil to get him to like you?

I'm over here playing my bard as a chaotic good/neutral little shit and I gained his approval REAL fast in Act 1:

I screamed "BAAA" at the redcaps

Defended Karlach against Wyll, and then later Mizora

Told Kagha "I just wanted to see what would happen" after saving Arabella from her

Fed the Owlbear cub and later pet him

Shouted "Boo!" at Volo's singing

Threw dung in a goblin's face after he tried to get me to rub it on my face

Intimidated another goblin to kiss my foot after he tried to get me to do it to him

Refused to accept Raphael's help upon first meeting him

Let him bite me

Listened to him talk about Cazador and offered my support

Let the Laviatar worshipper beat me

And I did all of that before I even encountered the Gur monster hunter that's tracking him, found the necromancy book that I ended up giving to him, or started his romance. I didn't even do all of these before his approval was in the High range. Not once did I hurt an innocent person.

It's really not unheard of to follow the "good" path and still have him like you. Granted, he does call you "a bit naive in the ways of the world" later on in Act 2, but at that point, he still respects the hell out of you.

No doubt that there are some players who would do cruel things to get Astarion's approval early on, but not all of us.

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion #bg3 astarion #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #jessica's personal stuff #jessica plays video games #gamer jess #text post

[awesomechocolatesauce]

I knew doing Astarion's quest was going to be rough, but jeez, the amount of spoilers I've stumbled upon didn't prepare me for the emotions I've felt by actually doing it.

And this line of dialogue, if you tell Astarion we can save the spawn we find in the dungeons...gods, the emotions.

Astarion: "If they are unleashed, they will cause incredible carnage. They will be ravenous. They must die. Better they serve a purpose."

Elayne: "In another life, you'd have led me to this crypt, and not that pretty clearing in the forest."

Astarion: "Gods...I can't say you're wrong. I can only say I'm so glad we didn't meet then. I don't even want to think what would have happened to you..."

Elayne: "Don't avoid it. Face it. You would have killed me."

Astarion: "I would have killed you..."

The disgust in his voice, the sadness in his eyes...he can't even deny it, because it's true. He absolutely would have killed her, and the very thought makes him sick.

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion #astarion x tav #elayne the bard #bg3 astarion #the pale elf #don't mind me #just sobbing over a fictional character from a video game #I just wanted to save him! #THE PAIN #astarion x elayne #jessica's personal stuff #jessica plays video games #gamer jess #screenshots

[awesomechocolatesauce]

One of these days, I'll learn to stop getting upset and scroll past a bad take of Astarion and the blatant bi/pan erasure of them, but that day isn't today.

I also don't see it happening tomorrow.

Anyway, here's a screenshot of my female human bard and the canonically pansexual vampire elven man who adores her.

#'I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE CAN SEE HIM WITH A FEMALE' probably because he's pan??? #I'm going to start blocking people on sight for this nonsense #I know it's not something worth getting upset about because he's a fictional character but I can't help myself #people who make posts like 'stop romancing him with a woman' just gets me so mad #he's canonically pansexual #also I paid $80 for this game so I'll play it however I damn well please 💕 #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #bg3 astarion #astarion #astarion x tav #elayne the bard #astarion x elayne #jessica's personal stuff #text post #screenshots

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Astarion: "Look, I had a plan--a nice, simple plan. Seduce you, sleep with you, manipulate your feelings so you'll never turn on me. It was easy... instinctive. Habits from two hundred years of charming people kicked in. All you had to do... was fall for it. And all I had to do was not fall for you.... Which is where my nice, simple plan...fell apart. You... you're incredible. You deserve something real. I want us...to be something real."

Elayne: "So do I. More than anything."

Astarion: "I just don't know what 'real' looks like. Not after two hundred years playing the rake."

Astarion: "Being close to someone -- any kind of intimacy -- was something I performed to lure people back for HIM. Even though I know things between us are different, being with someone still feels... tainted. Still brings up those feelings of disgust and loathing. I don't know how else to be with someone. No matter how much I'd like to."

---

I've been meaning to share these screenshots from my favorite love confession of his for a while. I know some people prefer the other after you meet Araj, but I prefer this one because I think it feels more... I don't know, genuine? Like he says he really wants to be with you, and he sounds like he's on the verge of tears from doing so, but he's letting you know that because of his trauma, he really doesn't know how to actually be with someone.

I've seen some people say that he doesn't actually want sex, but I disagree. I believe he wants it, but because of his trauma, he has a problem enjoying it fully and he disassociates. If you ask him here "So our nights together didn't mean anything?" he will say "Of course they did! That's the problem, or part of it."

The nights they've spent together did mean something to him, but he still feels disgusted afterwards because he was forced to use it for malicious purposes for centuries and it's hard to associate it with anything else. He needs time to figure out what it is that he actually wants and how sex fits into their relationship.

Much later, in the graveyard scene, confirms this for me.

"If a night of passion is on offer, I...can be persuaded." He brings up the subject again and the tone suggests he doesn't actually need any persuading. All you need to say is "Sounds good to me" without passing any persuasion checks and he happily goes through with it.

"Being with you is about more than lust or manipulating you into a tactical alliance. I love you. I love this. And I want it all." He wants you. In EVERY sense of the word.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk. 💕

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #elayne the bard #jessica's personal stuff #jessica plays video games #gamer jess #screenshots

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Araj: "I assume he belongs to you?"

Elayne: "Excuse me? He's his own person."

---

This scene makes my skin crawl. She's talking to him as if he's some sort of object, asks him to bite her for some weird fetish she's had forever, disregards his direct "no", and asks Elayne instead to "talk some sense into him". Sorry lady, he said no. That's final.

I love the look he gives her in this screenshot, though. The look of absolute disgust.

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #bg3 astarion #astarion #astarion x tav #tav #elayne the bard #astarion x elayne #araj oblodra #screenshots #jessica's personal stuff #jessica plays video games #gamer jess

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Wyll's really trying to get me to dance with him while my man and Gale are in the background asleep.

#I posted this to a FB group and someone said it's the only time he can shoot his shot without getting killed 😂 #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #bg3 wyll #wyll ravengard #gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #astarion #why does dancing with him have tk be considered romantic? #can't two friends dance together? #bg3 tav #tav #elayne the bard #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #screenshots #jessica's personal stuff #jessica plays video games #gamer jess

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Astarion: "There's... something I'd like to show you, if that's all right? Something out in the city."

Elayne: "If you want to sneak off for a cuddle, you can just ask."

Astarion: "I'll try to restrain myself if you do. Shall we?"

---

Astarion likes to cuddle, confirmed! 💕 I also love how flirty and teasing their banter can be. It's cute and heartwarming.

Also, look how nicely dressed they are! It was time for Astarion to wear something new.

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion #tav #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #elayne the bard #jessica plays video games #gamer jess #screenshots #screenshot #jessica's personal stuff

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Astarion: "I was manipulating you."

Bard Tav:

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #astarion #tav #astarion x tav #elayne the bard #jessica's personal stuff #sweetie this is a thing she's basically a master at #of course she knew #baldur's gate iii #text post #astarion x elayne

[awesomechocolatesauce]

I think I have a problem. 😂

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion #astarion ancunin #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #elayne the bard #screenshot #jessica plays video games #gamer jess

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Astarion: "You know, I didn't care for you when we first met. But I do now. Being with you is about more than lust or manipulating you into a tactical alliance. I love you. I love this. And I want it all."

---

Did I replay this scene over and over to get screenshots? Perhaps.

This scene just... it's so important to me. He takes her to his grave, where his mortal life ended and his slavery began. Then, after he's truly free, he decides he wants to live again, so he carves another year into the tombstone and turns to his love and says "I love you. I want you. I want it all."

He's starting out this "new life" by making love to the person who was by his side since the day they met, even though he threatened her with a dagger to her throat (which is hot, don't come at me). And he's making love to her on top of the place that started his two hundred years of torment, so now he reclaimed it, as well as his bodily autonomy. Symbolic, and also...hot.

Honestly, as a full time console player, mods never really mattered to me. I'm one of those people who plays vanilla Skyrim and Sims and is perfectly content with my limitations...except for this scene. With the free cam mod, it shows him climbing on top of her while hooking her leg with his knee as he lays her down onto her back in a passionate kiss. Hey, Larian, WHY YOU GOTTA HIDE THAT?! Biggest crime! Jail!

I've seen some people say how "weird" it is to have sex on top of his grave, and I'm just like "Uh...why?" Compared to the other things you can do in this game (bear scene, the Emperor scene, Haarlep), this is far more normal. It's not like he's still buried there, or anyone else is, so it's fair game in my eyes. Also, you decided to romance a damn vampire! What exactly did you expect? A feather bed covered in rose petals? Nah, we're doing a graveyard smash!

I plan on posting more screenshots as I play through Act 3 on the intent of actually finishing this damn game, so stay tuned. 💕

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #astarion #elayne the bard #jessica's personal stuff #gamer jess #jessica plays video games #screenshots

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Elayne: "Do you think you made the wrong choice?"

Astarion: "No, I made the right choice. Although, I do regret the options I had."

---

He didn't even skip a beat answering with this. He doesn't regret giving up that power, his only regret is that he was dealt a bad hand. It was either he ascends and thousands of people die and he continues the cycle of power hunger and abuse, or he doesn't ascend and all those people he wronged gets to live, but he won't be able to walk in the sun again (at least, not until they find a way around it).

I'm not here to argue which path is "better" because at the end of the day, it's all up to interpretation. I don't plan on ever ascending Astarion, because I want him to be able to grow and heal and be happy, and I want him to see his partner as his equal. I am, however, glad there's the option to ascend him so others can fulfill their evil playthroughs with their dark romances, and hey, good for you! I don't want to take that away from you. Have fun with that.

I'm incapable of being fully evil in video games, I feel way too bad, and the clips I've seen of ascended Astarion just makes me feel...sad. It's like the worst parts of himself are amplified, and all of his manipulation tactics from Act 1 are dialed up to 100. The sheer fact that you literally can't break up with him after he turns you terrifies me.

But I'm not here to shame anybody who prefer ascended Astarion. You do you. I'm just here to highlight this quote that's been living in my head rent free and I wanted to show off how fancy he looks. 💕

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion #spawn astarion #astarion x tav #elayne the bard #astarion x elayne #jessica's personal stuff #jessica plays video games #gamer jess #screenshots #screenshot

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Astarion: "Well, I should probably fix this." *carves a new date*

Elayne: *picks up a flower and lays it on the grave*

Astarion: "Cute."

---

Sorry about the dialogue overlay on these screenshots. They literally will not go away on PS5. I don't know why.

Anyway, I love this part. Carving a new date into his tombstone because he wants to start living again. He could've left it very well alone, but he didn't. Also, his carvings look very good! Not just a bunch a scratches! Good job, Astarion!

I remember him saying flowers are overrated, but here he is saying how cute it is that his girlfriend placed one on his grave. Yes, she is cute. Thank you for saying that. 💕

Then they smashed on top of his grave. Symbolic.

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #elayne the bard #jessica's personal stuff #jessica plays video games #gamer jess #screenshots

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Astarion: "Maybe never seeing the sun again is just the price of freedom."

Elayne: "I'll be with you either way. I hope you know that."

Astarion: "I think I do."

Astarion: "Assuming we survive, of course. Because a horrible death is always just around the corner with you."

---

There's something... bittersweet about the way Astarion simply accepts that after the tadpole business is over with, he'll never be able to walk in the sun again. He's not happy about it, but it is what it is. It was better than the alternative.

Elayne then reassures him, telling him she'll be with him no matter what, and he grins at her with relief. Of course, then Astarion has to be himself and make a joke about being around her is always so life threatening.

I just love how she looked like she was ready to fight in that moment. 😂

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #elayne the bard #bg3 tav #tav #jessica's personal stuff #jessica plays video games #gamer jess #am I replaying that same scene over and aber again so I can get screenshots? #yes #what are you going to do about it? #screenshots #screenshot

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Astarion: "For nearly two centuries, I stalked the streets like a ghost while the person I was lay here, dead and buried. Now I need to figure out who I am. What I want."

Elayne: "You're the person I love. The person I want."

Astarion: "I feel the same. You were by my side through all of this. Through bloodlust and pain and misery. You were patient. You cared. You trusted me when that was an objectively stupid thing to do."

Astarion: "I feel safe with you. Seen. And whatever the future holds for me, I don't want to lose that."

Elayne: "You won't. Whatever comes next, I've got you."

Astarion: "Thank you."

---

This is probably my favorite romantic dialogue of Astarion's, up there next to him confessing his feelings in Act 2. He has never had anyone look out for him like she has, been patient with him and care about him and trust him, whether or not that was a smart thing to do. She makes him feel safe, and that's all he's ever wanted to feel after two centuries of being terrified.

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #elayne the bard #tav #jessica plays video games #gamer jess #screenshots #screenshot #jessica's personal stuff

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Astarion: "Nearly two hundred years and I never came back. Not since I woke up down here."

Astarion: "I had to punch a hole and claw my way through six feet of dirt."

Astarion: "Then when I finally broke the surface, retching up dirt and congealed blood, Cazador was waiting. From that day on, I was his. Until today."

Elayne: "You were never his. Whatever he had, he took by force."

Astarion: "Maybe, but he did take it. There's almost nothing left of the person I was. Just a name on a rock."

---

This dialogue made me emotional. This place is very significant to him. It was the start of a new life, an awful life full of abuse under a power hungry monster who only created him to die in a ritual. He never came back, until two hundred years later after he kills Cazador. He brings the person who matters to him most, because she's significant to him, too.

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #astarion #elayne the bard #jessica plays video games #gamer jess #jessica's personal stuff #screenshots #screenshot

[awesomechocolatesauce]

Astarion: "You saved me from myself. I may not have appreciated it at the time, but I do now. Thank you."

Elayne: "You saved yourself. I just gave you a push."

Astarion: "You did more than that. You believed in me -- believed I was enough just the way I am. When I look at my future, anything and everything feels possible now. And I get to share it with you, as a partner. An...equal. You saved me from myself and let me walk a path where I can be free. Truly, honestly free. This is a gift, you know. Thank you -- I won't forget it."

---

Anybody who says this isn't a good ending for Astarion can fight me! Look at him and tell me he's not happy! He's free! He has his kickass girlfriend and great friends! He's smiling so widely and thanking her for saving him and not succumbing to the power hungry cycle. He sees her as an equal and not beneath him.

This is the best ending for him, in my eyes. It might be bittersweet, but it's better than sacrificing thousands of people for power and enhancing all of his worst traits. He's his same old roguish self I know and love and I wouldn't trade that for anything the ritual offers.

Of course, this is just my opinion. Ascended Astarion is good for evil playthroughs, but they don't do it for me. To each their own. 💕

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #astarion #astarion x tav #astarion x elayne #elayne the bard #jessica's personal stuff #jessica plays video games #gamer jess #screenshots #spawn astarion