Lesfir - Dark Charm Mess

i just watched pokemon concierge

i really thought fans who hate ascend astarion got his ending and then hated it. They are so pissed off about vampire bride groom thing saying it’s not canon, but then scream that he lied that tav/dark urge will hurt a bit when becoming a spawn. But it is true that it only hurt a bit, so i’m so confused. They refuse to see the evidences in the scene and how there was “ascend astarion still has soul” but no “tav/dark urge is not vampire bride groom.”

the bride theory exists in this weird state of canonisity where there are a lot of similarities in game to draw the conclusion, but because it isnt outright stated in game or by the devs to be true. i think thats intentional, its an rpg so they would want to leave some elements ambigious so you, the player, can decide what the story is based on your actions via roleplay. in this perspective, all theories have a certain level of validity in regard to canon.

as for it being painful, like. no duh? being ensanguinated isnt going to be pleasant. that doesnt make it morally wrong, and plus if your pc accepted lovitar's blessing its thematically satisfying (which is why i almost always choose "make it hurt" over "be gentle", you know its going to hurt. you welcome the pain. the pain becomes pleasure and vice versa. ascention and becoming his spawn is wearing the pain of trauma on your sleeve and not being ashamed of it.)

which, this really gets me when it comes to the idea that aa is inherently abusive. you could read it that way, but its just as well you can read it as two sickos being weird about their attachment to eachother. the rejection of the idea the player character can be an enthusiastic participant has somehow led to this, frankly insulting and cartoonish, depiction of a!astarion as a wife-beating rapist and the player character as a meek damsel. which i think is so wildly out of character. write a!a as toxic all you want, he is literally neutral evil, but for some reason people think an evil character has to be the most extreme characature possible, rather than the complex web of motives, flaws, sympathies, and personal standards a!astarion is.

this also denies the agency of actual people to extrapolate their own personal mean from the experience, what of a player character that would sacrifice anything just because astarion asked? what of a player character that was just as obsessed with him as he is with them? these ideas just dont compute in the minds of folks who insist you have to read astarion the One True Way

this got really rambly, but ultimately my point is that it is up to interpretation, intentionally so, and the team (welch not widthstanding lol) have pretty much expressed this exact sentiment. again, duh, because its a roleplaying game that encourages you to self insert.

God, yes. I love this

I think Lord Astarion shows his love by actually sharing and caring. "I'll protect you", "We share everything." Astarion's pretty greedy, selfish. He hasn't cared for anyone in years. It's interesting how he shows what he didn't believe before.

In addition it can also in an aggressive way by playing "Freedom-Tav", "Live your best life even if you don't appreciate it". He could get tired of it and kick Tav out. But he's still interested in "living best life", it's literal, he shares everything with Tav and won't let go if she won't take it. And for selfish reasons, he doesn't want to be alone, without Tav. These are two aggressive signals of his love.

He would do something "in return", like not letting her go, but to stage "freedom for Tav" as he understands it is dirty and uncomfortable. Build a small rustic house by the castle with a modest household. "Have fun." It was like to make Astarion who took offense. But I think even if he does it to 'teach Tav a lesson', he can't bear to be without her for long and will bring her back to his chambers. Lol, he has no patience. Astarion would miss without her and that too is a signal of his love. I don't know if he was worried about Tav sleeping there uncomfortably. "Tav started the fight first." *Sulking* *looks out the window as Tav pulls water from the well, sulking harder*

Astarion is a narcissistic person. However, he says "We" a lot. "We share, our way", he says "we" and "our" very often. He emphasizes that they are connected, very much so. For me personally, it feels good UwU And over, because now for him there is not only an "I" in the world, as there always has been, but a "we" - a ding-ding signal of love.

The Ascension opened up life for him again. And feelings too, I think the whole spectrum is in full effect.

His Feeling for Tav may be the greatest feeling in all of Faerun.

Playing with the idea that the word "love" is toxic in Astarion's eyes due to his history, here are other ways you can tell him how you feel as it may give him a better understanding of what he is to you. Give him an image. (PFFT, How to Train Your Dragon, Vampire Edition, though I used to have a small series that was Idiot's Guide to Vampires YEARS ago for the Mina and the Count fandom XD)

"You are the only thing that makes this wretched existence worth living."

"My brilliant light in the dismal dark."

"The "star" in your name is no coincidence. You light up my darkest night."

"My adoration for you knows no bounds."

"I don't know how I lived before you. It's like a spark ignited in me upon seeing your smile."

"My eternal flame."

"My greatest treasure."

"My journey has become more bearable with you accompanying me."

"I can't imagine a dragon cherishing its horde as much as I cherish you."

"How can I be upset? You just walked into the room."

"I did not imagine myself smiling as much as I do now before I met you."

These may come off as the pick-up lines that he used in the beginning, but given that there's history between the two of you at that point, they are more sincere and believable.

And of course, non-sexual physical touch and actions. Kissing the back of his hand before leaving with your fingers entwined, nuzzling any part of him at the best times, cupping his cheek(s) (FACE CHEEKS, Ass cheeks have a different place and time. Let him be the one to initiate that.) and gazing into his eyes with a soft, content hum, and brushing against his arm, chest, back as you pass. Make him feel that he is ABOVE love. Those aren't love bites he left on you, those are trophies of his adoration for you.

Have him notice you discarded the word entirely until much later in life when you feel that he's healed from his meaning of the word. Or not, and keep finding creative ways to tell him how you feel.

It stresses me out a bit that AAastarion is like a white crow, a target in the fandom. Fandom choose angst for him (or bully)... But if my Tav and him are on the same wave, in canon they are a good, fun, loving couple of villain.

So I went to my mom.

-- I don't know how to explain, mom, in general I like the character that everyone hates.

-- I have that character, too.

-- Oh, that singer, yes?

-- No, not at all. It's my husband. Your papa.

Lord, my family is kinda Addams.