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#'"but karlach isn't that tall' she is in MY HEART
ramlightly · 7 months
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okay but what if bg3 had a snowy area
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Heavy Metal Lover
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Karlach x F! Tav
18+ physical combat (consensual), so much teasing, public sex (kind of), manhandling, roughness, restraint, dom karlach/sub tav, strength kink, hand kink, size difference, fingering (f!), grinding, light choking, overstimulation, porn w/o plot
With her touch newly returned, Karlach is hungry for contact. Seeking out Tav for a little hand to hand combat that quickly turns heated...
Masterlist
-
Tav resisted rolling her eyes at Astarion's wide grin. That face meant only one thing, he was about to be insufferable about something.
"What?" She sighed, resigned to the incoming teasing.
"You haven't noticed, have you?" He purred, an indulgent edge of pre-emptive preening in his voice.
"Obviously not, if you're being this unbearable." She sniped flatly, turning back to hanging laundry on tip toes.
He slid his foot under the arch of her heel, biting at her teasingly when she turned to give him a glare. Baring her own absent fangs.
"Look real close now..." He pointed across camp to Karlach. She was trying to talk Wyll into sparring with her, him trying to wave her away good naturedly.
Tav roved her eyes over the tall muscular body, pushing the slow creep of lust aside to focus on any changes.
She was starting to get frustrated, suddenly sure that Astarion was just fucking with her again, trying to get her to ogle their companion.
That's when she caught it. Two newly rounded talons on her right hand, pointer and middle finger.
Tav sucked in an involuntarily breath, lips falling open. All higher thinking pulled from her mind.
"Eager, isn't she?" Astarion crooned, jolting Tav back. His voice far too knowing for her taste as he hovered behind her.
"It's only been one night since she's gotten touch back, I admire her ambition."
Knowing his hands were clasped behind his back in that leaning way he always does.
Karlach's eyes caught Tav's, waving excitedly. Like they hadn't been together all day, rocking on the balls of her feet happily.
Tav groaned, heart jelly.
"Oh," Astarion lilted out a laugh. "She's got it bad for you."
"Wait, really?" Tav turned to him, clothespin in hand. Her snarky play falling back for a moment in genuine confusion.
Astarion tilted his head at her, his demeanor falling back in kind. "Seriously? Gods, Tav, you really are unobservant."
"Hey, it's not that I don't pay attention. I'm just blind to when it's aimed at me." She huffed, crossing arms.
"Oh, I know. I'm still amazed that you were blindsided to Gale's pining."
He relented when Tav threw her arms up in frustration.
"Ah, ah, okay. You're just blind to your own suitors, we'll agree. So trust me as an objective pair of eyes. That tower of muscle wants you. Badly."
"Oh, and here she comes now!" Astarion giggled, trapezing away on delighted feet. "Good luck with your new knowledge, darling!"
"Someone wants to go hungry tonight!" She threatened after him. Him giving her a little twirl.
"Uh-oh, you two are always at each other's throats." Karlach laughed, watching him go with fond eyes. "Literally."
"Oh, we were just playing." Tav assured, returning to hanging sheets.
"What's up, Karlach?" She asked, back on tip toes. Smoothing hands over the pleats, stretching up to pin the fabric down.
Karlach grabbed the clothespin from her hands easily, pinning it above her natural reach.
"Oh! Thank you!" Tav squeaked. Trying not to give the height difference between them any thought at all.
"Well, no one will spar with me." Karlach pouted. Her eyes starting to swim with tears that she brushed away with angry fingers. Huffing out a steadying breath, smiling down at Tav.
"But I think you might be under my weight class, might be an unfair fight to ask you."
Tav's heart thrilled.
"I mean... I am stronger than I look."
This was true. She was eyeline with mostly chests, but she could pull some weight. Hells she's carried unconscious Gale over her shoulders several times now in the heat of battle.
Huh. Okay, his crush on her makes sense.
"I would love to spar with you, Karlach." She smiled, handing her up another sheet to hang.
"Really?!" Karlach bunched the fabric in her hands in excitement.
"Oh, whoops." She shook out the fabric, giving it one hard flick of her wrist. The fabric snapping in the air.
Tav let out a little involuntarily moan, then clapped her hand over her mouth. Gods below, what was that...
"You okay, soldier? Felling up to it?"
"Yeah, just.. uh, a little woozy." She tapped the side of her neck where the given pinpricks lay.
"You know, now that I'm touchable again, I wouldn't mind giving you a break some nights. Mama K's got a lot of blood to give."
Tav saw a silver head pop up in her peripheral.
"Ah, I'm alright." Tav flapped her hands in an affable way. "Though something tells me our favorite leech might start circling now."
"He's a hungry boy, we gotta keep him big and strong!" Karlach laughed.
"Okay, big and strong, I'll see you tonight." Tav teased.
Karlach's tail curled up, arching at the base. Her cheekbones heating.
"Okay... Well. Bye..." She sighed, turning and walking in a forced casualty that even Tav could clock.
Astarion's mouth had fallen open, hand hovering over his jaw. When he caught Tav's gaze, he pointed to where a tail would be on his body. Raising his eyebrows in salacious glee.
Tav didn't know much about tiefling tail etiquette but could glean enough from his pantomiming. Her own cheeks warming as she stomped at him to quit it, only fueling the bouncing suppressed laughter in his shoulders.
-
Initially, several of their companions had agreed to sit ringside. But as the day wore endlessly on with sun bearing down, most of them either decided to retire early or wade into the cool river with a few bottles of wine.
"Don't take too long..." Astarion sing-songed over his shoulder, a wine bottle hanging loose from his fingertips.
"Oh! Wait!" Tav called, standing and meeting him in the middle. Unbuckling the strap on the dagger at his hip, taking the bottle from his fingers and uncorking it with her teeth.
"Ugh, don't do that. You'll ruin your teeth." He chided, angling his hip for her to pull the dagger free.
"Shush." She cut into the back of her hand, dripping it into the rim of the thick glass. Swirling slowly.
He took his dagger back with a spin of fingers, seating it back with an unconscious flourish.
"Say when." She flexed her hand, encouraging more flow.
"Is never an option?"
"No, unless you want to get punched again."
"Gods, you do have a mean hook." He rubbed his jaw in memory.
"Alright fine. That's plenty." Leaning forward, he licked the stem of blood until it slowed to a stop.
"You know that only closes your wounds, right? Or I'd put you to use as a cleric on the battlefield."
He sighed dreamily. "Oh, it would be delicious. But very uncharitable motivation, I assure you."
"Well, best be off." He eyed the approaching tiefling with a mischievous twinkle. "Thank you, my darling."
She kissed his cheek. "No problem, have fun."
He waved over his shoulder as he departed, Karlach coming to Tav's side.
"Aw, you two are so cute together."
"Oh, we're not together." Tav laughed, the thought strange. "He reminds me of so many of my siblings."
"So many?" Karlach laughed. "Wait, how many do you have?"
"Entirely too many." Tav huffed, unconsciously settling into that authoritative posture she used with them.
"Aw, man. I want too many!" Karlach clicked her tongue. "Ah, well. Can't win 'em all."
"Speaking of, prepared to lose?" Tav teased, rolling her shoulders back.
"Oh, ho," Karlach laughed, settling back into a crouch. "Bring it on, babe."
Tav widened her stance, rolling her arm back in a curved elbow. Loosening her neck.
"Ready?" Tav hummed, balanced on the heels of her feet.
"Very." Karlach urged, fingers flexing.
"Then come get me." Tav smiled.
Karlach lunged forward, trying to sweep her leg.
Tav picked up her feet, ducking around her. Dodging another hand reaching for her wrist.
She laughed as she planted a foot to stand on Karlach's crouched hip. Using her shoulder as a hold to step up, swinging around her back to put her in a headlock. Hand pushing into her throat.
"Choking, huh?" She chided.
Karlach kneeled down abruptly, slamming her back into the ground.
Tav released, the air taken out of her. Still trying to lock her legs around Karlach's thighs.
"Oh, come on," Karlach laughed, prying her legs open with her hands. Her shoulder muscles rippling with exertion.
Tav's mouth fell open at the sight and sensation. Even with the full strength of her thighs, Karlach split her like cleaved wood.
Karlach turned and pinned her thighs open between her own, sitting on her pelvis.
"Hah!... Hey, why'd you stop?"
Tav's eyes darted down to the position they were pushed into.
Karlach paused, looking down as well.
"Oh..."
Neither moved, both huffing with exertion.
A stand still, the air charged with tension. Thighs straddled criss cross, their centers pressed together.
Tav tried not to moan, just the heat coming from her core pulling slick from her.
All it would take is one of them moving their hips.
Karlach looked down at her with blown out eyes, a desperate hunger, near anger, pulling her face slack. One hand gripping into Tav's propped thigh, starting to rock her hips.
"Gods, this heat!" Gale exclaimed, emerging from his tent. Fanning himself with a thin tome, heading towards the water.
Karlach flipped Tav up by the hips, pulling her up into a more appropriate position kneeling next to her. Tav squeaked, being manhandled so easily sending another wave of arousal to her lust dumb mind.
Gale turned towards them, unaware. "Oh! Are you guys coming too? I wouldn't mind the company on the walk."
"Absolutely!" Karlach called, giving Tav a questioning raise of her eyebrows.
"Oh! Uh, yeah! I'd love to hear about that." She pointed to the tome he was holding.
Rising to feet, led by Karlach's hand. Another shock of arousal as she stared at the mesmerizing sight, curled around hers with its diabolically implicit fingernails.
Gods above and below help her.
Gale chattered excitedly ahead as they walked, and Tav was really trying to listen. Truly, she was. But Karlach was walking just behind her, a hand flat against her lower back. The spread of fingers absurd, so wide it made her knees weak. Thumb rubbing mind numbing arcs into the sensitive skin.
Through the haze of her lust she managed a few well timed sounds of affirmation, trying to focus on silly things like words.
Oh, what fresh hells had she unleashed. Feeling Karlach's wide smile behind her. Enjoying tormenting her so innocently. Wanting to swat her away and lean in as hard as possible at the same time.
After an eternity, they reached the water. The gentle swell and lapping mockingly peaceful, moon ribboned and dark. Their companions gathered, floating conversation and passing wine.
Gale sat on the dock, rolling his sleep pants up to the calf. Dipping legs in with a deep sigh.
"Not getting in, Gale?" Karlach remarked in gentle disappointment. Fingers slipping inside of Tav's waistband behind her.
Tav breathed out a fast breath through nose, stomping her foot just slightly. Sliding the movement into shifting her weight casually.
"Ah, too much skin for present company." He smiled, a slight blush rising to his cheeks. Eyes darting to Tav, then quickly away.
"But don't let me discourage you. Go on, enjoy the water in all it's glory."
"Well, what do you think, Tav?" Karlach asked in a deceptively neutral voice.
As she was about to respond, Karlach pulled her fingers taut into her waistband, snapping it against her lower back. Covering the sound with a cough.
A rush of wetness pooling in her underclothes, she hissed out a quiet threat. Karlach's fingers grazing her skin, a quivering of contained laughter in the chest she stepped back into.
"I think that's a great idea. If you'll pardon us Gale?"
She didn't wait to get his response, pulling Karlach in her wake. Her low laugh slipping out as she was led, Tav in a fast stomp, Karlach in an easy wide stride. Long legs not having to rush at all to keep up.
Tav was about to turn to lay into her when a wide hand caught around the front of her throat. Another pushing flat against her lower belly. Both burning hot.
Her breath caught, leaning head back as those fingers splayed up her neck. Sharp talons pressing into the underside of her jaw.
"I wasn't done back there." Her voice all gravel. Pressing the words into the side of her head, heat pressing into her back. The expanse of muscle a heavy presence behind her.
Tav whimpered, twisting to look behind them to gauge how close they were to the group.
"Nothing important back there, baby." She laughed, pulling Tav's chin forward with a force belieing her easy words.
"Gods, Tav," She sighed, voice all heat again. Fingers sliding down the front of her waistband, long fingers traveling a short distance quickly. "I've been so hungry to fuck you."
Tav moaned a little whine at the vulgarity, knees buckling in earnest. Karlach's own knee pushed into hers, forcing her down into an open kneel. Her large body enveloping behind, thighs encircling around hers.
Her fingers strained against the fabric for a few seconds before she huffed out a frustrated breath. Hands gripping up onto Tav's hips, pulling her up onto her belly, wrenching her leggings down onto her knees, then seating her back onto knees with barely an effort.
"There, that's better." She said decidedly. Tav delirious with lust from being handled like a five pound weight.
Karlach's fingers found her center again with a happy hum. Rounded fingertips pushing inside her with no further pretense. Tav bucking at the sudden introduction.
Karlach's other hand came back up to spread along her throat, pressing down just hard enough to make her moan. Long fingers thrusting slow thigh shaking pleasure into her. Her hips rocking into the hilt of her palm.
"Fuck, you're so tight around my fingers." Karlach hissed, rising on one knee to grind into her lower back.
Tav arched her ass into her in time, her hand and hips pulsing a rhythm into her. Gasping out staggered breaths.
"Take your top off for me." Karlach murmured, unwilling to give up her hold. Fingers tightening a wide cage into her neck.
Tav pulled her blouse open with fast fingers, pooling onto her elbows. Unclapsing the front of her bra, breasts falling free. Her hard nipples pebbling even more rigid. The combination of the sweltering night air and the fire at her back making her feel untethered.
Karlach's grinding sped up at the sight, sucking in a breath through teeth. Fingers picking up the pace a few moments later, taking a second to catch up to her hips.
Fingers now slamming into her, Tav's legs gave out, head falling back. Squeaking out fast indignant whines.
"Shhh..." Karlach urged, hand coming up from her throat to muffle over her mouth. Pulling her head back into her. "We're far, but not that far."
Tav's nails dug into her thighs, Karlach groaning quietly against her back. Tav's eyes rising into her skull, lids fluttering. Her cunt clenching in irregular pulses as her orgasm circled, drawing ever closer.
She murmured against Karlach's hand and she released slightly, fingers still plunging into her in lewd squelching.
"What was that?" She whispered, voice as sweet as her hands were rough.
"Choke me again, please."
Karlach's cunt ground into her so hard it pushed her forward. Her hand snapping back down around her throat, pulling her back flush in a sharp grip.
"Fuck yes." Karlach breathed, feeling the tremor coming from her core, pelvis bucking uncontrolled. "Give it to me, baby. Cum all over me."
Tav whimpered, cunt chasing her fingers with abandon. Her moans silenced in her throat. Head falling back, orgasm about to crest.
Karlach looked down into her eyes, pulling her jaw open further with her thumb. Licking up the inside of her lower lip with a groan.
That wrenched the orgasm from her far faster than she was ready for, her cry cut off abruptly into a hiss by Karlach's tightening fingers. Loosening as she enveloped her mouth in a muffling kiss. Tav gripped the back of her head and the curve of her horn desperately as it ripped through her. Cunt tightening down in visible pulls of her fingers, cum pushing out onto her palm with every thrust.
Karlach moaned against her mouth, the heat of her lips reigniting the hunger in her belly. Her body overstimulated all the same she whimpered against her, fast fingers still plunging.
"Just one more for me, baby. You're so pretty when you cum." Karlach urged, thumb rubbing hard circles into her cum slick clit.
Tav whined, buckling forward.
"Back." Karlach growled, fisting her hair into a ponytail. Pulling her flush once again.
"Yes, saer." Tav moaned.
"Fuck, call me that again." Karlach groaned, hips bucking hard into her back. Hand winding in a taut circle, pulling her hair back to her knuckles.
Tav moaned, a ragdoll to her demanding, in both body and words. Crying out as her second orgasm hit.
"Cum on my back- please, saer!"
Karlach shuddered against her, biting down hard into her shoulder to muffle herself. Her sharp teeth sending a shock of pain through her already unbearably high pleasure. Tav's nails curving with bruising intensity into her thigh, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out. The second wave of slick pushing into the first, dripping down Karlachs wrist. A spreading wet against her lower back as Karlach's hips slowed into choppy pulses.
"Fuck..." She slid her fingers free, veiled in a thick layer of pulling arousal. Spreading it between her two fingers indulgently, making Tav blush despite the absolutely lewd behavior she just displayed.
"Karlach..." She whined, uncomfortable.
"Okay, okay." She chuckled. Popping the fingers into her mouth, sucking them clean with a thorough tongue. As if that was any better.
When her mouth opened again, Tav caught sight of something that made her cunt ache again.
"Karlach, why do you have a tongue piercing?" She whined, finding the whole situation extremely unfair.
"Huh? Oh, I hadn't realized you hadn't seen it! Though maybe you're usually not at an angle where you can, you tiny thing."
Karlach stuck it out flat, the small rounded stud displayed in the middle of her long pointed tongue.
Tav moaned, cupping her face and licking a line up the middle. The little smooth bump sending a renewed shock through her exhausted pelvis.
Karlach groaned, eyes fluttering up then returning to hers dark again.
"Careful soldier," She warned. "You're going to burn us both up."
~
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featherwurm · 1 month
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How to Karlach's and Tav's tail lengths and width compare? Are they the same, if one shorter/longer, is one thicker/thinner, do they have any scars etc :)
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They both have pretty average tails overall - the length of their outseam plus about a foot or so - which for both of them is quite long. While I know Karlach shares the in-game model height with the tall fem tief of about 6', in my heart (and drawings) she is the same as her character brief of 7' (putting Zatavia at 6'9".) Tav's tail is a little longer than Karlach's, tapering to a thinner tip because she doesn't have the same skin webbing that Karlach does, and she just has a lighter build overall. Karlach's tail tip is more typical in shape - although Tav's tail isn't unusual in that regard - it's like having an attached or detached earlobe.
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How I, personally, think BG3 tief tails work, with the caveat that I'm of the opinion that tiefs should still be able to be weird as hell despite Hasbro standardizing them a lot for marketability (compare 3e to 5e). You'll sometimes see cartilage on both sides (for a more classic devil 'point') and more variation on proportion of skin, making for heart or club shaped tail tips too. Similarly you might more rarely see bifurcation, or multiple cartilage ridges. I think of their tails as being about as dexterous and strong as a pinky finger - able to wrap around things and hold them, but not strong enough to pick up heavy things, hold their whole body, wield a weapon, or do fine, detailed work unless specifically trained for. With minimal fat distribution the tail tends to be the one of the last places on the body to show significant weight gain or loss.
Karlach's tail has scars in similar proportion to the rest of her body - lots of old, well-healed cuts and scratches, but nothing exceptional. Some probably have stories attached, others are just in the milieu of 'was fighting in hell for 10 years straight after being a bodyguard and a rambunctious kid.' Nothing particularly stands out as exceptionally bad.
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Tav is similar, though less scarred overall, with markers of 25 years traveling as a wandering monk after 10 years of monastery training and a similarly active childhood. The one significant one is that she's missing the very tip of the hook of her tail - which she accidentally bit off as a toddler. She had gotten into a fight with it, as kids do, and the tail lost. Her poor mum came home to a bloody kitchen, husband, and daughter, although Tav was easily soothed after the initial shock and flailing. There was a surprisingly large amount of cleanup - tail wounds bleed like a bitch.
I know I draw them all over the place but this is because I operate on a principle called vibes, but that's my personal feelings on size and shape and such!
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Hello! I am here from your post of the BG3 matchups / hcs!
I was reading fanfics when I should be sleeping for college and I came across this and figured this might quell my indecisiveness.
So I guess a bit about my Tav / Me:
My Tav/OC is named Maelyra, and her traits are that she is really outgoing, adventurous, kind, you know, the usual (Given that she is a Bard and a Half-Elf). She's very optimistic and friendly and welcoming to new people (a bit ADHD). She is also smol, not dwarf small, but she is 5'1. She also tends to give one too many second chances to people regardless of how much they hurt her. The only time she does not give second chances is if they hurt anyone she cares about because she is insanely loyal and would lay her life on the line for an in an instant for her friends.
She also tends to be a little bit of a hypocrite in some regards, as she spends a lot of time taking care of people and telling them that they are always worth it, no matter what and they should never feel ashamed of anything or that they have to hide parts of themselves. Yet she does not like to tell people about her past and usually masks her pain with happiness (not to say she isn't ever geuninley happy b/c 99% of the time she is actually happy), because she's afraid it would make them look at her differently (she is usually the sunshine of the group).
Her hobbies and skills are mainly on the artistic side. Dancing, singing, drawing, painting, playing music. Anything that is in that regard. Hence, the Bard stuff. She loves, loves, LOVES kids - thinks they are the most cute things to ever exist. And she also tends to daydream a lot. She tends to have a strong dislike for insanely physical activities if it isn't for fun and gets bored easily if the activity isn't something she is interested in.
(Sorry if that's long, I get carried away a lot)
Anyway!
I am fine with boys and girls (coming in a bi-queen!), but I would like them separate if that's alright :)
Thank you so much, and sorry if this is so long!
A/N: Reading fanfics when I should be sleeping is practically my life story lol. Because you (as a fellow bisexual queen!) specified you wanted separate male and female answers, I’ve got two companions for you down below.
For you @seanymphcalypso , I think your best matches in companions would be Astarion (Male) and Karlach (Female)!
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⭒ Astarion is a great match for Maelyra, even if it may not look so on paper. At first glance, the two have more differences than similarities, however, if you look closer, their differences are perfect counterbalances for one another.
Astarion may put on the charm, but a good amount of that is a facade- one he was forced to wear to lure victims to Cazador. He’s more introverted than he lets on. Although I do believe deep down, he truly is an extrovert, he’s less of a conspicuous one. He would do well with someone friendly and outgoing enough to initiate, within a relationship- and that’s where Maelyra comes in. She’s friendly, kind and very sociable. There’s no doubt in my mind her extroversion would enable her to slowly unpeel the many walls and guarded layers of Astarion’s heart. He is rather disarmed by someone who is genuinely cordial all the time- it’s sort of refreshing to think there are people out there who are sincerely kind and not just feigning kindness or interest to get something later on.
Astarion himself isn’t a big guy. He’s slender, and not incredibly tall so Maelyra’s shorter stature wouldn’t bother him in the slightest. He finds it rather adorable- that so much energy and personality could be stored in such a small person.
If anyone could use a boatload of second chances, it’s Astarion. He wasn't exactly the kindest person before his capture, and he still isn’t exactly the kindest person now. He’s endured 200 years of nonstop trauma and torture. So much of how he thinks, how he acts, and how he reacts is based on survival, not on personality. He lashes out, and he’s probably going to lash out often, even when he knows better. It’s not that he wants to hurt his new companions, and he especially doesn’t want to upset Maelyra, it’s just that he’s not used to having permission to experience all the newfound emotions. He’s inexperienced when it comes to processing them, compartmentalizing, and responding to them appropriately. He’s so grateful that she understands how hard he’s tried, how hard he’s trying to be better. He thinks she must be part celestial or aasimar to have the level of patience and forgiveness she does.
It’s also so meaningful to Asatrion that she refuses to let people cross the line with him and with her friends. No one has stuck their neck out for him like that before. (Huh, get it? Neck??) He used to believe he wasn’t worthy of such defenses. But thanks to Maelyra’s affection, he’s starting to think differently.
Astarion understands Maelyra’s hesitance to share who she truly is, so he won't push her to open up until she’s ready. He may bug her with some teasing questions here and there, but as long as she takes what he says to her on faith, he figures it’s the least he could do to return the favor. But whenever she is ready to share, he’s ready to listen. And he promises to do his best not to judge.
He loves that she’s interested in art. Back as a magistrate, Astarion found he quite enjoyed the fine arts- the theater, art shows, higher fashion- all that sorts. Especially the way Maelyra manages to capture his appearance on paper or canvas. After he was turned, he never thought he’d see his appearance ever again. But thanks to her talent, he can see himself through her eyes: with such precise brush strokes, and detail, he can tell he’s loved just by looking at her depictions of him.
Astarion may not be the fondest of children at the moment, mainly because they bring back horrible memories of what Cazador forced him to do. But he does like how happy Maelyra is when she’s around them. It fills his undead heart with glee every time he sees how her face lights up around a baby. Honestly, the idea of having or raising children never used to cross his mind. But now that he’s free, and now that he’s with her, the idea doesn’t seem so impossible. He doesn’t feel ready yet- and he probably won't be for quite some time. So in the meantime, he just grins and bears it as Maelyra makes him sit amongst the children for song/story time. And he tries his hardest to maintain a stoic, indifferent disposition, even as some of the little ones weave flowers into his hair.
Astarion doesn’t mind taking it easy, as a matter of fact, he prefers it. A lazy day spent lounging in each other’s company sounds much better than hiking through humid weather or getting trapped amongst an unruly village crowd. He’s very similar in that if he doesn’t want to do something, he’ll make sure to let everyone around him know. The two of them can be quite stubborn that way, much to some of the other companions’ chagrin.
At the end of the day, Astarion feels great love for Maelyra. And he knows she loves him in return. And thanks in part to her love, he’s beginning to think he might one day love himself.
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♨ Karlach is such a great match for Maelyra because they’re like two peas in a pod! Karlach is loud, outgoing, and extroverted as well, making her able to match Maelyra’s more sociable energy. They’re both optimists and choose to look on the bright side, despite the darkness in their past. That’s not to say being hopeful comes easy to either one of them, but with Maelyra and her infectious eagerness by her side, Karlach feels empowered to choose happiness all the more.
Karlach is big and tall. She’s a tall glass of water for sure. And she thinks it’s adorable that Maelyra’s shorter than her. She loves their height difference and how it makes Maelyra the perfect height for forehead kisses. Plus, it boosts Karlach’s ego when she can lift Maelyra and carry her around on her shoulders as if she weighs nothing. It’s also Karlach’s way of letting Maelyra know she can defend and protect her from harm. If any evil thing comes Maelyra’s way, she can just step behind her giant barbarian girlfriend.
Karlach is also fairly forgiving when it comes to second chances. Despite being a barbarian, she’s empathetic and thoughtful before going in for the attack. She chose to reason with Wyll rather than engage him in battle when he first hunted her down. She isn’t the bloodthirsty devil people think she is, and she wants people to know that. So she forgives. That being said, Karlach certainly doesn’t forget. If someone dares try to take or hurt her friends, she will go into a rage. God help anyone who dares try to hurt Maelyra.
Karlach is truly impressive in that while she does often take on the burden of her friends, she also manages to put her needs first. It’s great for Maelyra to be with someone who knows how to balance goodwill and self-care as it sets an example for her to follow. With Karlach reminding Maelyra to take time for herself, Maelyra is even more effective at caring for her friends. Sleep and proper care for yourself does wonders, and it makes you all the more ready to tackle the day. And Karlach loves that Maelyra knows how to have fun. Fun is super important, especially when you’re tasked with saving the world. It’s the only thing that keeps you from going completely crazy. So KArlach and Maelyra are often the ones to initiate game nights or visits to a local tavern. (They may also be the only two left standing after a couple rounds of shots lol.) However, just because Karlach is extroverted and happy-go-lucky more often than not, doesn’t mean she isn’t serious. She knows when to be positive, and she also knows when people just need to vent. She’s willing to listen if Maelyra is ever willing to talk. She wants Maelyra to feel safe with her- in both happy moments and in bad ones.
And ooh boy, kids! Karlach lights up around kids! Did you see how wistful she got when meeting Jaheria’s family? She’d love nothing more for her life to be about protecting and nurturing as opposed to destroying and claiming. She and Maelyrn would have hour-long conversations, dreaming about what their family might look like in the future. Sure, there’d be a ton of logistics to work out, but in the meantime, that doesn't mean they can’t dream.
Karlach needs physical activity. She needs tons of movement or else she’s gonna go crazy. So to work Maelyra into her workouts, Karlach will either use her as excess weight or as someone to count her reps. Maelyra could get comfortable on Karlach’s back, reading or writing, or even drawing as Karlach continues to do push ups. Sometimes Karlach will alter the count, just to see if Maelyra’s listening. “24… 200… 201” “Don’t you mean 26?” “Of course love, what did you think I said?”
They’re basically couple goals. Everyone else in camp is lowkey jealous af.
...
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blackjackkent · 4 months
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The ritual circle opens into an ornately decorated room with high ceilings and tall, translucent red windows. Jaheira and Minsc look around with interest, and Karlach with wariness, but Hector stiffens involuntarily with recognition. The feel of the air is the same - this most certainly is the same building Raphael brought them to all those months ago, before he knew any of the people currently here with him. The air is ever so slightly too warm, the light ever so slightly too orange to be sunlight.
He feels the back of his neck prickle. He feels abruptly aware to a much sharper degree of just how much danger they have put themselves in by coming here - and yet there was no other choice...
Karlach, standing by his side, fidgets her weight from one foot to the other. She speaks suddenly, the words bursting out of her, a plea for reassurance in spite of every effort to hold it back.
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"Gods, I can't believe I'm doing this. We're going to get out of here... right?"
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His heart aches at the note of fear under the words. She has devoted every fiber of her being - her very life - to getting away from this place, and here she is back in it again. She said herself that she wanted to be here with him, to help cut a hole in Raphael's plans; he wouldn't have brought her otherwise. But it doesn't make it an easier task for her.
He meets her eyes steadily, letting her focus on him, ground herself in his voice. "Of course," he says softly. "We just need to get the hammer and go."
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She nods a few times, squaring her shoulders firmly. "Get in, get the hammer, and go. Easy," she agrees. Her voice still trembles, just a little, in spite of the determination in the words. "We won't get trapped here. We won't get dragged deeper into Avernus." She swallows, squeezes her eyes shut as if trying to imprint the words inside her brain. "We won't."
He leans forward, cups his palm against her cheek and kisses her gently. She rests her forehead against his for a moment, and he waits until he feels her start to relax just a little before he draws back.
"On the bright side," she adds, more steadily. "My engine finally feels normal. Like it isn't about to explode."
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She concentrates inward for a moment, smiles slightly and rubs her jaw. "Phew. I gotta admit, that's pretty nice."
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Hector says nothing. Hearing her say that elicits a complicated cocktail of emotion indeed - pleasure at seeing her in less pain for once, mixed with the bittersweet knowledge that he will never, and should never, convince her against her will to stay in this place where she can be safe and live. (And, for that matter, the knowledge that this place where she could be safe and live is terrible on a hundred other levels.)
But he doesn't speak, because what good would it do? No doubt she can imagine what he's thinking just as clearly anyway.
So he waits, and after a moment or so, she shakes herself and looks away, and the bitterness of her words feel like a chunk of ice in his heart despite the heat around them.
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"Let's find that hammer and get out of here before I get used to feeling like I might live."
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girlwiththepapatattoo · 8 months
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The Unlikely Similarities Between Kittens and Vampires, Chapter 15
Warnings: non-graphic oral sex, Astarion being himself
Summary: The Underdark isn't great, and Sable finds an enterprising use for the Fog Cloud spell.
Notes: Oh focus, where hast thou gone?
Sorry for the wait for this chapter, this week's been hell and I might be getting sick. Anyway, enjoy! <3
Read on Ao3 here!
Previous Chapter | First Chapter
They leave by the open window of the dilapidated chapel, as they didn’t find a way to turn off the damaging beams that killed the sudden rampaging minotaur so quickly. 
And they’re immediately attacked by a spectator. 
Who started unpetrifying the statues of drow placed around the cliffs. 
After somehow making it through that battle, bruised and battered they start making their way down to lower ground. 
And are attacked by a bulette.
They deal enough damage to the thing that they kill it before it can escape down it’s many burrow holes in the ground, but by this time no one is eager to move on to face more threats. 
After taking care of those exploding mushrooms, they make camp. And the entire time Astarion, slightly bloodied but not too badly off, is muttering under his breath. 
“Oh, yes, the Underdark is surely the safer route,” he hisses as he hammers in a tent peg a little harder than strictly necessary. “Surely, if this is the optimal choice between the two, the mountain pass would have been absolutely lethal! Good thing we listened to that very intelligent druid’s advice!” 
Halsin, setting up his tent literally across from the vampire, gives him a flat look. “If you have a complaint with my counsel, Astarion, speak it to my face.” 
“I’m sorry, it seems the area is sadly lacking in ladders tall enough to accommodate that,” comes the tart reply. 
On Halsin’s left, Karlach cackles. “You just called yourself short!” 
“I most certainly did not!” Astarion protests. “I’m calling him a giant. World of difference.” 
“Will you stop bickering?” Gale says huffily as he walks by, his own tent already up (magically, of course). “None of us are happy with how we’ve been welcomed down here, but that’s no excuse to jump down anyone’s throat.” 
“Trust me, if I were down the druid’s throat, he’d most certainly know it,” the vampire says, and no one’s quite sure if he means it as innuendo or a threat. Probably both.
Several noises of discomfort follow that proclamation, and Halsin just sighs and ducks into his tent. Astarion smirks victoriously, then grabs his wash bucket and soaps, heading around the bend for the waterfall they’d discovered earlier. 
He pauses as he realizes that it’s already occupied. Sable stands there, letting the water rush over her, her hands pressed to the stone for support. The look on her face…his still heart pangs. She looks a million miles away, a look he’s all too familiar with. He undresses, leaving his armor and underclothes near her own, and steps up to her. “Sable.” 
She jumps, flushing as she realizes that he’s both here and naked. “O-Oh, Astarion. How long have you been here?” 
“Only a few moments,” he says softly. “Are you all right? You looked…far away just now.” 
She smiles weakly. “I’m fine, I promise.” But her smile is just a hint too small, the corners of her eyes just a little too tight. 
He sighs, reaching out and cupping his hand gently around her jaw. “Darling, remember when I told you that you’re very easy to read? I meant it.” He leans forward and presses a quick kiss to her forehead. “Don’t lie to me.” 
Her eyes close. “Sorry. I’m sorry, I’m…” She takes a deep breath, lets it out slowly, shakily. “It’s…this place. It’s too quiet, it’s too…oppressive. Yes, I’m a druid and everything, but I was raised in the city. It took long enough to get used to the forests. I know there’s nature down here, but it’s mostly mushrooms and other plants. There’s no wind through the trees, no animal calls, no…ambient sounds of the city streets.” She shivers. “I hate it.” 
Astarion softens, and he steps forward, wrapping his arms around his lover. She melts into him, her own arms winding gently around his middle. “I’m not exactly fond of the place myself,” he murmurs, pressing his cheek to her wet hair. “Now listen here, my kitten.” He feels her smile faintly against his chest at the nickname. “You’re not alone in this. None of us like it down here. So if you’re finding it overwhelming, just ask me for a distraction. Hm?” He pauses. “Well, so long as we’re not in a fight for our lives anyway.” 
She looks up at him, her hazel eyes locking into his crimson. “I need a distraction.” 
The air changes, becoming charged, intense. “Any particular type?” he asks, voice low, a sultry purr like velvet over her skin. 
She swallows, her mouth going dry. “Surprise me.” 
He smirks, and gently pushes her. Her back slaps softly against the wall behind the waterfall. “You are aware that anyone could just walk over and see us?” he murmurs, even as he lowers himself to his knees before her. 
Her eyes darken, even as her face flushes in both embarrassment and arousal. She waves her hand, green motes of light following her fingers, and a thick fog obscures the perimeter of the waterfall, hiding them from view. “Not anymore.” 
“My clever little kitten,” he praises. “Now, be nice and quiet for me. We don’t want them to come investigating any loud noises, do we?” 
He doesn’t give her a chance to answer, instead slinging one leg over his shoulder and leaning forward to bury his face into her core. 
She was quiet. Barely. And only because she seals her hand over her mouth. 
//////////////////////////////////
They emerge from the fog cloud, clean and refreshed, the young druid holding both their buckets as Astarion cradles her gently in his arms. He looks terribly smug as he carries her back to the campfire. Shadowheart hides a smile into her mug of tea as the vampire settles down with Sable in his lap. “Don’t you two look cozy.” 
“There has never been a more cozy couple,” Astarion says happily. “Oh, Shadowheart, be a dear and do your thing for her, please.” 
The cleric’s brow furrows as she searches Sable’s increasingly flushed neck. “I…can, of course, but I don’t see where you fed.” 
Sable hides her face behind her hands as Astarion smirks. “I can bite places other than the neck, you know.” 
The sigh that Shadowheart lets out is pained. “I knew I shouldn’t have asked.” But the gentle restoration spell washes over Sable anyway. 
//////////////////////////////////
Gale had to literally be carried out of the arcane tower. Slung over Halsin’s shoulder, he protested the entire walk away and back to their campsite from the previous night. 
“We already spent half a day in there,” the huge druid says, patting the wizard on the back. “Once this is all over, we can go back.” 
“But who knows what’ll get in there and mess about when we’re gone!” Gale protests, nearly on the verge of whining. 
“Stop your sniveling,” Lae’zel growls. “We must not waste any more time than we already have here.” 
“Here’s an idea,” Karlach says, crossing her massive arms. “How about we stop for lunch? I know I’m starving, and we’ll all think better on full stomachs.” 
There’s a general agreement about that, though Lae’zel grumbles a bit about the stop. Sable sits down and pulls out some dried meat and an apple, almost mechanically going through the motions of eating. Astarion sits beside her, leaning back on a boulder, crimson eyes trained on the rocky ceiling hundreds of feet overhead. “...you know, you may have a point,” he mutters, brow furrowing faintly. 
“About what?” she asks softly. 
“This place. I might prefer the city to a wilderness in the middle of nowhere, but…it was still nice to see the sky.” He sighs. “Endless rock gets so dull after a little while. What’s left to see? ‘Oh look, a new stalactite!’ Ugh.” 
She can’t help a smile, mirth dancing in her eyes as she chews. Glad to see a happy expression on her face, he continues. 
“And I mean really, all the damned mushrooms. It’s just so…phallic. Like this place is so boring to look at that it had to overcompensate with thousands of dicks.” 
She bursts out laughing, her face going red as she quickly smothers the sound, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention from anything nearby. 
And he does his best to ignore the uncomfortably perfect warmth in his long-cold heart. 
She seems better after that, more present, more herself. Even as they pick their way carefully across the craggy landscape. 
Even as they meet the myconid leader, who asks them to kill some slavers who are threatening his people. 
But especially as they walk away from the village, and she motions him down to whisper-laugh into his ear, “It’s an entire down of dickheads!” 
He’s never been more proud of her.
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