#tav insert

The 'love-hate' kiss There is a very good chunk of time when Astarion can't quite come to terms with the fact that he cares for you. As a result, he somewhat hates you - after all, how dare you ruin his plans. Nevertheless, he can't keep away from you for too long. It is like his lips crave yours the same way his tongue craves the sharp metallic twang of your blood. This results in some of the most passionate kisses you have ever experienced, his hand forcefully (but not painfully) clasping your chin to pull you closer as his lips moved against yours - full of hatred and love, a battle in his mind brought forth into a kiss that leaves your head reeling, heart fluttering, and skin tingling.

The 'I'm hungry' kiss Astarion was never one to shy away from asking you for a snack but, sometimes, when he was feeling more mischievous, he would approach a little more flirtatiously than normal (and that was saying something). When his kisses turned into light, playful pecks, changing directions and landing across your skin at odd intervals that left you guessing and somewhat ticklish, you knew exactly what he wanted. Upon asking him, his smirk and aloof response were always the same ~ 'I have no idea what you're talking about, my love. Can't I show off my affections for you, darling?' A quick reminder that it was rude to play with his food would usually be enough for him to stop the kisses trialling up the column of your throat and for his teeth to gently sink beneath your scarred skin.

The 'don't walk away from me' kiss There is no denying that a relationship with Astarion has disagreements, especially as you get closer and closer to Cazador. As someone so unused to love and trust, this man can be difficult to deal with at the best of times. Sometimes, it can be easier to just walk away for an hour and try again with him when he has come to his senses. Often, however, he doesn't agree with your decisions, although that is nothing new. A little bit scared that you would walk away and never walk back, but mainly enraged at how much you could make him feel, he would grab your wrist and pull you right back into him, spinning you to plant his lips firmly against yours, stopping any protest. You could easily pull away from him if you tried, but you could never bring yourself to as his lips moved so desperately against yours, fueled by both love and desperation.

Sleep didn’t come to you though, you were tossing and turning, trying to be quiet for your companions, but gave up. You sighed an ache in your body, a familiar ache. You grabbed your pack and headed to the river and sat down by the bank. Your mind was a little hazy as you grabbed a small vile and drank it quickly. You made a disgusted face and coughed, your hand going over your mouth instantly and glancing back to your companions who slept. You sighed putting the empty file back, you had four left. You’d need to get more for the long journey ahead. Your mind cleared and the ache left, a small potion brewed by an old woman you found willing to get rid of your curse of a rank. You smelt like nothing, nobody knew what you were and didn’t bother you, just how you wanted it. You shuddered a bit rubbing your hands over your arms, you should’ve brought a blanket. You sighed hugging your knees instead as you stared at the lake.

“You’ll catch a cold out here” you jumped almost screaming at the sound of the alphas voice behind you. Halsin chuckled lightly laying a blanket around your shoulders and sitting by you. You thanked him quietly tugging the blanket closer.

“What keeps you awake this night?” He asked and you shrugged putting your pack at your side, away from his view.

“Can’t sleep” you said.

“More aches and pain?” He asked worried and your heart clenched.

“No, I’m alright” you said giving him a small smile and he nodded.

“It’s not my business, but when I healed you the other day-“ he stalked and you froze dreading his next words.

“It is not my business, apologies” he said and you relaxed a little.

“What’s going on over here?” You glanced to Astarion who came to sit on your other side.

“Our friend can’t sleep” Halsin said as Astarion looked to you.

“Really? I can think of ways to get you to sleep” he grinned, fangs on display and you slapped his arm.

“I will rip your fangs out” you fought and he blinked in surprise at your threat before chuckling.

“Cheeky pup, I’d bite your fingers off before that happened” he gave you a playful chomp of his teeth and you smiled.

“What about you bear?” Astarion peered to Halsin.

“I would assume you’d need your beauty sleep big time, do you hibernate?” Astarion quizzed and you snorted quietly shaking your head and Halsin just smiled.

“No, Astarion I don’t” the alpha chuckled.

“Hm, pity, I could’ve used a distraction to get a taste of you” you flushed at his words the vampire had no shame.

“You’re embarrassing the little one” Halsin scolded softly with a smile and Astarion smirked at you like he knew something.

“I’m sure she’s heard it all” Astarion said giving suggestions for you to talk.

“No” you said huffing and he pouted.

“Honestly, if I didn’t know better I’d say you’re a virgin” Astarion moved his gaze to the river and your whole body tensed. Your mind flashed between images and you quickly stood to find the safety of your tent.

Halsin frowned as you got up and left quickly after Astarions comment. He growled at the pale elf who shrugged and left. Halsin huffed and looked to the pack you left seeing an empty vile peeking out. He frowned curiosity getting him as he grabbed it and took a small sniff of the contents. His nose scrunched up and his frown hardened. They were suppressors, horrible medical things to stop ones true nature, it had its affects, aches and pains, nausea, haziness of missing a dose, they were an addiction. what had happened to you? He picked up the pack and left it outside your tent before heading back to his.

You avoided Halsin and Astarion for a while. You were just trying to feel normal again. Your body had taken a toll on something, whether it was the fighting or mental capacity some things took, your body felt it. Gods you felt heavier, weaker, your muscles ached, but you forced through it. At the end of a hard fight though you ended up straggling back, you had puked and groaned as you sat down against a cold wall away from blood. You’d popped an extra suppressor a few days ago thinking it was your omeganess weighing you down. You sensed someone coming though and quickly stood seeming like you were looking for supplies. Halsin appeared a worried look in his eyes before he saw you.

“Are you alight?” He called and you nodded smiling falsely. You picked up some gold from the goblins on the ground as he stopped by you.

Halsin sensed your pain, whatever type it was, you were slower, reactions not on point, you’d take hit after hit, even with Shadowhearts quick healing you looked weighed down. His beast stirred at the thought as did his other nature, he could smell blood and sick? Had you been sick. His nose scrunched lightly as you continued gathering what you could from this small goblin outpost. Your body was tense, you took time to kneel and get up, your brows going together slightly as you went. You looked paler too, were you still hurt?

Halsin just stood there, a light scrunch in his nose, maybe it was all the blood. You tried to ignore the way he just stood there like he was trying to process something a little harshly.

“Hey?” You walked up to him and waved a hand in front of his face. He frowned at your hand before looking to you.

“Come on” you cocked your head going to follow the others, ignoring how your legs felt like dead weight. The group had set up camp nearby, all ready to lie down for the day. Gale had overtaken the cooking again, he disliked anyone melding with his cooking. Nobody took it from him though, he was an excellent cook. You however wanted a warm bath and wine, gods you felt worse than this morning. You left camp for some privacy saying you needed the bathroom. You took your small pack with you and sat down against a big tree. You closed your eyes resting your head back against the bark. You held the pack on your lap debating if you should truely take another suppressant. You grabbed one and fiddled with it between your fingers, surely it’d take the edge off?

“Don’t!” You jumped at the sound of a voice and saw Halsin coming towards you. You quickly hid the vile, but it was too late he’d already seen it.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell, but those viles are making you worse” he said worry in his voice.

“Worse? I feel worse off them!” You snapped without reason seeing the hurt across his features as he sat down in front of you, legs crossed.

“You don’t know me or my story, so don’t assume you know what makes me feel worse” why were you feeling so hostile? to this man, this alpha whose kind eyes and soft words never failed anyone. You went to take it out of spite, but he stopped you.

“Please, just listen” he begged and your heart clenched, you were cruel to him. You faltered, tears in your eyes as you shoved it back in your pack and got up to leave, the big alpha calling your name.

“Listen to me for one moment” he grabbed your wrist and you snatched it away from him wiping tears down your face.

“Just go away!” You huffed wiping your eyes going to run again.

“Omega!” He said and your whole body tensed, an unnatural feeling of disgust filling your body. He froze, eyes wide as you began to shake. You went back to camp quickly and quietly, you began to pack your things mind blank and body tense.

“Y/n?” You heard Tav asked as you flinched from them. Your mind switched back on and you stared confused hands shaking.

“Sorry-“ they said frowning before kneeling down.

“Are you alright?” They asked and you nodded nervously.

“What happened? You’re shaking?” Their eyes went to your hands.

“It was my fault” you looked to the bear a little ways away.

“I pressed a button I shouldn’t have” his voice was guilty and pained.

“I must leave, she will stay, I will head my own way” he nodded and your heart dropped.

“Halsin?” Tav asked standing up, but the Druid had already left.

“Karlach?” Tav called the teifling perking up before seeing the situation.

“I got ya” Karlach said coming over and sitting down with you.

“What’s happening?” She asked eyes worried as you watched Tav walk away.

“I don’t-“ you mumbled brain in a mess.

“Hey it’s alright, we’ll just sit here and take a breath yeah?” She smiled warmly and all you could do was nod.

‘’The red one’s a bit too on the nose, don’t you think?’’ Astarion smiles as turns to you for a moment. His attention once more set on the remaining light in the sky.

You smirk, amused that you’ve caught him off guard.

‘’...I’m not judging, yet, but I don’t exactly see how you can be so fixated on wallpaper when the construction crew hasn’t even begun working on building a roof.’’ It’s just wood, materials, everything’s scattered about. A few lines drawn in the sand, a few holes dug. The crew itself is currently sharing a meal around a campfire.

‘’I’ve been mapping the layout in my mind, you can’t get a feel for it unless you’re walking here.’’ He gestures as he begins to trail around the markers. ‘’A nice long hallway, fitted.. Long glass windows, to let in light, but not too much.’’ He trails back towards you. ‘’Over there, a courtyard that leads to several sections of the palace itself.’’ He pauses, taking notes in his documents. ‘’Hmm, a fountain would fit the aesthetic.. But some guests might disagree with having running water so close to… Well, not that my spawn have to worry about that, it’s our estate.’’ He begins to mumble, returning to his thoughts before turning to you.

You ponder about it yourself for a moment, he keeps calling it a palace. A palace… You certainly had enough land for it to be a palace, Not a manor, not a mansion. The estate was a palace. The servants would call it their home, but its true owners would be you and Astarion. Heroes, nobility. Saviours of Baldur’s gate. Vampires.

‘’There’s a lot of land marked.. A lot more than I remember.’’

‘’Well, my treasure.. The duke was so kind as to reward us with some extra, seeing as the netherbrain blew up large portions of the city, including.. The.. Szarr estate.’’ Astarion briefly shudders at the mention of that name. ‘’Saves the trouble of taking it down myself, but now I get to be expensively creative.’’

He steps on what remains of the old office space. The elevator has been locked down and hidden with protective glamour. He traces the broken walls as he walks up to a very dusty desk. ‘’What a waste of all the champagne he had laying about.’’ 

He stress tests the wood before sitting down on it. The chair itself rests on the floor, missing a leg. Astarion’s fingers then glide towards the drawers as he peeks inside and pulls out a tiny bottle of alcohol. ‘’Unopened, too.’’ With a giddy expression he rips off the bottle’s lid and takes a whiff. ‘’My love, I think you might like this one.’’

You walk up to the desk, eyeing it with some concerns. It’s sturdy, but you don’t want to sit down and potentially ruin the moment in the event it breaks. The vampire lord gives you a playful look as you take the bottle and bring it to your lips.

‘’There’s blood in it.’’ The irony sweet flavour surprises you. You peer at the bottle, all it says is the name of what you assume is one of Cazador’s victims.. Or someone he had blood taken from. ‘’..Elven? It’s been well preserved with something..’’ You take another sip before you hand it back to Astarion. 

‘’Not familiar at all? Hmm. Interesting.’’

It takes a moment for you to realise the bottle says ‘’ancuinin’’ Which is Astarion’s last name.

‘’..Did you just feed me your 200 year old own blood?’’ 

The vampire lord bursts out laughing.

‘’..I’ve always liked your wicked side, but this is a little..’’

‘’Oh darling, if anything, I’d want you to have the last reminder of my mortal days.. I drained you myself, it’s only fair.’’ He begins to stare off in the distance, possibly possessed by some old memory. His eyes lower to the ground, he lets out a sigh.

‘’He just kept yours..?’’

‘’I figure he kept it for a special occasion, one long since passed. It’s odd, the scent is different. Out of everything, you’d think I’d recognise my own perfume? But my taste changed.’’

You casually take a swig from the bottle. Astarion grins.

‘’It is two hundred years old.. Preserved like wine.’’ You reach out with it towards him. ‘’It may be the past, still, it is part of you.’’

He looks hesitant, The earlier comfort and confidence he bore on his pale face fades as the sun goes down. His red eyes glow with unclear intent. His fingers trace your hand as he takes it.

The silence is earth shattering, he rolls the bottle in his hand. ‘’First time I saw it was when we.. Went to take my revenge.’’ The tips of his fingers trace the writing on the label.

‘’Out of all the cruel things he’s done.. This one simply.. Strikes me as odd. It could’ve been for magic purposes, or.. The blood of a family member, but no.’’

‘’When could he have taken it? Before I was gutted..? Did he scrape it off the cold stone floor, or did he take it before..’’ Astarion sighs.

‘’He possibly tried to preserve the memory, the reason for his fixation on me. And with this gone, I’ll bury that too.’’ He pauses before taking a small sip. A smile comes over his face.

‘’..I can even taste the arrogance I once had. Curious.’’

‘’Luckily it’s been replaced by this bigger, better ego.’’ You chime in, placing a hand on his cheek. 

Astarion turns his attention back to you, leaning in onto your touch, despite your reluctance to sit on the desk he pulls you onto his lap dexterously.

You audibly gasp, as the wood shakes and creaks for a moment.

Astarion doesn’t mind it though, he puts the bottle to your lips, and you take another swig.. Savoring every drop as it pours down your throat.

‘’Handsome little consort.’’ Astarion speaks in a cheeky tone, enjoying the expression on your face.

You picture the night he turned you again, climbing over you, draining you empty.. It’s almost as if your minds collide in that shared fantasy, your hands reach out to grab hold of his shoulders, he falls down with you as the table collapses under the shared weight.

He doesn’t cry out in pain, he welcomes the floor. Your lips are touching and he moans in harmony with you.

‘’..Tav..’’ He heaves, arms locking you in by the hips. He licks the blood off your lips.

You can hear the sound of the construction crew nearby, their chattering breaks you out of the moment.

Astarion lets you go and gets up on his own.

‘’Oh, no marble floors.’’ 

‘’..What?’’

‘’No marble floors, you heard me. Slippery, it stains, too.’’ You point to the blood on the carpet. ‘’It’s going to cost more to make servants clean it up or to replace it..’’

‘’What about black marble..?’’

‘’No! And I saw the note about white curtains.. That’s a no too.’’

‘’..Darling..’’

‘’Being rich doesn’t mean we should be wasteful. We should be resourceful! That’s the deal.’’

‘’A little waste is just what nobles do! And flaunt the wealth.. Like we’re-’’

‘’We’re better than that.’’

‘’What about a summer estate..? It would be-’’

‘’Astarion.’’

‘’Fine.. I’ll cut out the plans for being a spoiled nuisance for now, but you’ll change your mind soon enough.’’

You fold your arm into his as you begin to walk back towards the inn together. ‘’The silken sheets are an exception.’’ You stick out your tongue as he scoffs.

‘’Of course they are! What’s the point of them otherwise?’’ He begins to rant about different fabrics as your mind drifts towards the dusky night sky.