Idek

Astarion does not care about your relationship or affinity with the other companions. He only cares about your relationship and affinity with him. He may call everyone "darling" but he flirts with you. He gets in your ear and says sweet and nice things... to you. He compliments... you. He plays around... with you. He wants you to feel good about yourself which will make you feel good about him. Most of his manipulation moments happen in one on one scenarios, where it is just you and him. He is a very different man when he's with you because he's manipulating you. He acts very differently with people around you or in group settings. If anything, the person he is in group settings is closer to the real man he is cause he's not trying to manipulate everyone.

He puts on this overly flirtatious mask cause he is using you to guarantee his survival (at least at first). But, because he puts this mask on in one on one scenarios, it only takes just one second to you to see through it to fail. And if you happen to catch on to him, you can see very easily through the mask. The manipulation instantly fails and he is forced to be himself to try to maintain your approval. But if you don't see his mask early on, he could convince you to do just about anything, even the most heinous of actions. And then when he willingly lets his mask fall or feels he no longer needs it and you see the real him, it's too late. You've already fallen in love with him. Now, he can do no wrong in your eyes.

Shadow uses nearly the exact opposite approach. She does care about your relationship and affinity for others. To be precise, she wants you to have a slightly unfavorable opinion of the others so that she comes out as the favored by default. Lae'zel is a particular target of this. She avoids one on one scenarios and pushes you away every time you try to get close. Yes, it is that inner Sharran of hers in regards to keeping secrets. But also the fact that she's super easy to see through if you get close to her, so she wants to keep you away for the sole purpose that you don't see that she's manipulating you. But, even if you do, she still has the benefit of the doubt on her side.

Her manipulation mostly takes place in group scenarios. She takes advantage of things as they happen and she says very precise words to sway your opinion in the way she wants. Unfortunately, Lae'zel is a perfect example of how successful this manipulation tactic can be. Shadow doesn't not need to tell you Lae'zel is dangerous, she just reminds you that she is while Lae'zel is actively doing dangerous things. Shadow will even openly admit to this tactic and it will fly over your head that that's exactly what she's doing because she has made herself appear as someone who wouldn't do it to you. Or, admitting to it can make you doubt that she ever would as you may think, "a real manipulator wouldn't admit to manipulating me, right?" Her manipulation is all about planting just the slightest bit of doubt, and you do the rest and manipulate yourself for her. And she does it so marvelously. She makes sure that the only person you don't doubt is her.

And if you’re romancing him, holy SHIT is he the most supportive, ride or die boyfriend ever. He knows exactly what it’s like to lose control of yourself, or to be under the control of others. He is always there for Durge even while they’re actively tied up, trying to kill him. Durge needs him just as much as he needs them.

“Easy now darling, you’ve got this. And I’ve got you”

And when they’re both free from their masters? God if that isn’t one of the sweetest moments of storytelling.

Astarion is a sweetheart to Durge almost immediately, once he warms up to them a little. He is one of the only members of the group that understands them and what they’re going through. I just love the way their relationship develops. He seems to be the only one in the party that actually asks Durge how they’re feeling about everything too.

Then Astarion makes an insensitive joke about the eating thing, Karlach doesn’t laugh, he notices her mood change. Then he puts two and two together and realizes they have YET ANOTHER thing in common. Not only feeding on gross and rotten things, but feeding on enemies they kill. Astarion does it during fights with the group, and Karlach used to have to do it in the hells. Then he makes a comment about how he does it too and it’s fine, or whatever, which makes Karl feel a bit better about herself.

Actually finished this one can you believe it??

These are going to be a sticker sheet! 5x7” glossy kiss cut. Probably US only shipping (sorry… I need to figure out international shipping but I’m just one person and there has been NO international demand. Shout if you’ll ACTUALLY buy them outside the US and I’ll make it work)