#astarionxtav

thanks for including me @lottavilja as you know you are a huge inspiration for me.

I don't know if anyone is around currently due to the holidays. Nevertheless it was fun to get this done.

my fic Lives Intertwined

Rating:  Explicit

Pairing:  Astarion/Tav are the central couple. I will be pairing Wyll and Karlach. And Gale will have someone special. Shadowheart will have someone too!

Completion Status:  Only at Chapter 14. Working on 15 in the next week.  I write these rolling epic adventures. As long as I finish it.

Plot Summary: 

Astarion and Tav make a life for themselves beyond the end of events of the game story. They discover Astarion is being hunted by some Vampires, and other nefarious individuals who would like to Ascend. It's their new adventure to find out why and how to break the curse that is on him, and maybe the other Spawn that Cazador left behind. Alot of action and sexy intimate romance, as well as numerous characters from the game, who will come to join them. They will also find out about their past lives together through the elven trait of Reverie.

The Vibees:

Well… I think it’s romantic. Maybe over the top at times. A lot of intimate scenes. But even with that, there is an action feel to this. I enjoy action and romance. It’s a story that is journeying through the centuries. I'm really enjoying travelling back in time. I'm excited to travel through current Faerun as well. I'm getting into D&D world building, so quite a bit of research is happening. That means writing can take a longer time. I'm very much into details.  I want to go everywhere! I want to go to Avernus.   

Short Snippet

(Chap 3)

Something pushed through the drape and jumped onto the bed. She peered at the cat, sitting and watching her intently. It was a short-haired blue with grey eyes. Not one of hers. Suddenly she became self-conscious of her naked vulnerability in her own bed.

‘Astarion…’

‘Mmm…’

‘There’s a cat staring at me.’

The cat started speaking to them. ‘Greetings from your dearest and closest friend. It has taken a lot of time and effort in finding your location. I hope I am not intruding into a personal time of intimacy—‘

Astarion lifted his head to see the creature. ‘Oh, gods, it’s from Gale.’ He lay back down again.

The fact that Astarion could understand meant it was a magical message.

The cat continued, ‘With that, it is my wish to find you both bountifully happy, and together, which would work out splendidly. Since defeating the Netherbrain, and returning all to a semblance of normality, for most anyway, I have been rather busy of late on various projects. Even Mystra has shown a more gracious side of herself, which has been quite the surprise to say the least. She has decided to share knowledge to assist with one such device. This has taken up quite a chunk of my time---‘

‘Get to the point, Gale,’ Astarion demanded.

It seemed the message anticipated Astarion’s impatience. The cat said, ‘I am messaging you regarding that particular design, I discussed previously. The prototype is now complete. You are both invited to Waterdeep to view my testing of aforementioned object. It would give me great pleasure to show you my hospitality. Please come at your earliest convenience.’

Astarion grumbled, ‘What is he talking about?’

Tav laughed. ‘I miss Gale’s way of rambling.’

The cat hadn’t finished. ‘Knowing well your compassionate nature, it should be no trouble at all for you to give this creature some milk and meat, as he might be quite famished.’

She pet the cat around the head and neck, giving it a good cuddle. The cat purred and pushed on her hand for more.

'Don't encourage it,' Astarion said with vexation, 'It won't want to leave.'

What other media inspired this fic:

I’m not sure there is any.  I’m inspired by other writers. In regards to ideas… I like to build on the fan canon already present for these characters.

How did your understanding of the characters change while writing this?

Astarion is currently the main character that is known by all. I seem to always be discovering something new about him. Maybe not new, but another layer of depth to his psyche. He’s truly fascinating. But this means he evolves abit more with each chapter. The more Fanfiction I read the more he develops! I haven’t got to the other characters yet. Wonder how they will go.

My Tav character is also evolving. She’s quite different to him. So the contrast has been fun to play with.

What’s one thing you put in—trope, character beat, scene—that was just extra shamelessly self-indulgent?

Sex, my dear, sex. It’s probably the one thing that is self-indulgent. At every opportunity they make love. Why not?  They are in lurve! 

Needs must be met.

What’s the structural choice you made on purpose—POV, timeline, chaptering—that most shaped the story?

Maybe timeline?   There are layers of story because of the past lives timelines. It’s actually tricky trying to work out when to reveal those scenes. They will be quite poignant and need to be at the right time. It’s difficult to write long fics like this in a "post as you write" format.

Which theme emerged accidentally, and which one did you pursue deliberately?

I feel like a lot of scenes emerge accidentally for me. The characters start talking and then things get said. Or hands start roaming and then before you know it, hot scenes are happening.

I also have deliberate scenes. They are set scenes in my head that flow off onto the page. I love that type of scene. I 've got scenes that might be 5, 10 chapters away.

What was the biggest risk you took with this fic?

It is the risk all fanfiction writers take. Writing it and posting it.

Will someone read it. That is the fear and the hope.

In a hypothetical scenario where you are forced to rewrite the whole story from scratch, what would you do differently?

Haven’t finished yet. I don’t think I would rewrite, but I would probably go back to the start and flesh out and add more depth to scenes.  Possibly.