essea: (42.)
ɪᴏʀᴠᴇᴛʜ. ([personal profile] essea) wrote2022-09-07 10:10 am
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nibbling: (pic#16872722)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-07 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, he loves to hear that sweet word on Iorveth's lips: yes. A lifetime of 'no', and now there's nothing that scratches the itch in the back of his brain quite as much as Iorveth's immediate and unthinking agreement. It is, of course, absolutely insane to so much as suggest that they should just spend eternity rolling around in bed together, but that just makes Iorveth's acquiescence all the better. ]

Yes, [ he sighs with a smile, almost dreamy in nature. It's hard to tell if it's agreeing with Iorveth's agreement, or just an echo of the thing he likes most to hear. It doesn't matter, because it's the last thing he says before he devolves into soft sounds of pleasure, the sort that he once couldn't tolerate coming from himself. He hardly thinks of the shame that used to make him muffle them now; Iorveth should know exactly how he makes Astarion feel, which is wonderful.

There's nothing explosive about the climax, just gentle hands and a steadily building pressure low in his stomach until he tenses and trembles. It's perfect. Not overwhelming or scary, just pleasurable. He isn't quite so gentle, though, and he squeezes on the downstroke, firm and encouraging.
]
nibbling: (pic#17087968)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-08 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ Crazy, that's the same thing he's thinking about Iorveth — he's so sweet, no way he's a murderer!! As Iorveth peels the clothing from his bottom half, Astarion glances down at his injured leg, taking the pillow from underneath it and covering the bruises. His lovely fiancé doesn't need to see that.

Otherwise, he lies limp and happy against the pillows, staring up at Iorveth with an enamored expression, hearts practically twirling around his head.
]

I would like that. We've been confined to the dark for too long.

[ He wants to see the way Iorveth's dark hair shines in the sun, the way his tanned skin glows, his eyes sparkle. And he wants to see other things, too: color again, bright and vibrant rather than dull and muted. ]

How long were you hoping to stay, my dear? [ It'll put Gale out, but whatever. ] I could find ways to occupy my time if you wanted to... delay your return to the north.
nibbling: (pic#16984683)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-08 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ Astarion instantly reaches over to curl around Iorveth as best he can with this stupid leg, nestled into the crooks of Iorveth's body like he belongs there. The sex is good, but the aftercare is better. He's impossibly lucky to have something like this. He's never, ever, ever giving it up, and that is a threat. ]

As I recall, the Duke wasn't our biggest fan.

[ You make a few comments about how Wyll was better off without him, anyway, and Duke Ravengard makes a whole big scene. Whatever. It's still right. Wyll is twice the man the Duke will ever be, Astarion thinks, even with his ridiculous tendency toward heroism. ]

But I wouldn't mind returning home for a bit.

[ Because that's what it still is to him, in a way. 'Home' isn't always good, but it's familiar. If the place he could navigate with his eyes closed isn't home, where is? ]

...Although I must admit I'm surprised you would want to. I thought you didn't care for the Gate.
nibbling: (pic#16872718)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-08 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ The place where I fell in love with you. Astarion will never not get a happy shiver up his spine at the reminder that Iorveth not only tolerates him, not only likes him, but loves him. The man who used to scornfully call him 'vampire', who once sent a note flying past his head via arrow. Sometimes he wishes it had all happened quicker, less messily, but—

There's not a moment he doesn't cherish, even the ones that made him furious. Oh, he's so impossibly down bad.

The mention of Dolores perks him up—how is that old biddy, he wonders—and the idea of her couture clothing more so. The future occasions most of all. He's still flushed from intimacy, but his face pinks a little more with pleasure, and he places his good hand on Iorveth's chest excitedly. He's less into wedding 'planning' and more into wedding 'fantasizing', but it's very, very fun to imagine it.
]

And for you, of course.

[ Gods, someone will have to stop him from trying to commission her to make Iorveth a whole new wardrobe. He's loved to dress Iorveth up ever since that ostentatious outfit in the Water Queen's House. ]

Something low-cut, to show off that lovely tattoo. [ And because he likes looking at Iorveth's chest, so what!! ] Should we match, do you think, or is that too unbearably twee? Something complementary, perhaps.
nibbling: (pic#17341358)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-08 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ Although it's too tender to do so, Astarion longs to press the hand to Iorveth's cheek the way he'd done so long ago, in their room at the Elfsong, when they were still dancing awkwardly around each other. The both of them were too stubborn to admit the depth of their feeling back then, or perhaps too prideful even to realize it. If he could go back in time and tell himself to stop being such a fool and just love Iorveth already, he knows that he wouldn't listen to himself.

But he's long since overcome that hurdle, and how. He takes his uninjured hand and links it with Iorveth's instead. Holding Iorveth's hand is still the one thing he likes better than anything else, even now. All the sex in the world doesn't compare to the feeling of knowing Iorveth is right beside him and isn't going anywhere.
]

You are such a talented little seamstress these days.

[ One corner of his mouth tugs up a little further at the image of all of those crooked suns. ]

What will it be? A heart, perhaps? Another sun? Those are your specialty.
nibbling: (pic#17273788)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-08 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It dawns on him, slowly, what a luxury it is to lie around and chat with someone after intimacy. To have someone stick around rather than be dragged off kicking and screaming to somewhere terrible. To press himself against Iorveth's body and feel safe, unashamed. Gods, he loves this man; he presses his mouth against Iorveth's wrist, letting the contact linger as he closes his eyes, inhaling the sweet scent of Iorveth's skin and feeling his pulse beat against Astarion's lips. ]

It's your touch, my love. Of course it will agree with me.

[ Unless it's like, fucking ugly, but he'll let Iorveth down gently later if that's the case. No point in dwelling on that now!!

He drags his teeth over Iorveth's wrist, light, playful.
]

I hated having to subsist on that— man. [ He hated a lot of things about that situation, but most of them aren't very romantic, so he keeps his mouth shut. ] It's only you I want on my tongue.
nibbling: (pic#17226224)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-09 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
Will I? [ A mischievous grin. ] Well, then I'll say so every day.

[ Obviously, he thinks the idea of Iorveth's jealousy is— comforting, for one. Astarion is a wretched little beast, and he feels jealous of all the other people that have ever been the recipients of Iorveth's love. He has no one else to rival Iorveth, but it would be nice to know that, hypothetically, Iorveth might feel some jealousy at the thought. It's also kind of hot, whatever.

He refuses to stop holding Iorveth's hand (a wretched little beast, again) so he uses his injured hand to steady Iorveth's wrist, fingertips lightly brushing Iorveth's skin. It hurts a little, but it's all right. He'd weather any pain to for just one drop of Iorveth's blood in his throat. Also, he loves Iorveth a totally normal and sane amount, why would you even ask that??

His fangs pierce the skin just enough for blood to bead at the two pinprick punctures; he licks it up.
]

Mm. [ A pleased hum. ] You know, sometimes I think of my blood on your tongue.

[ In the context of making him a vampire—a true vampire!—which is an unachievable fantasy, but still good all the same. ]
Edited 2025-07-09 00:09 (UTC)
nibbling: (pic#17263716)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-09 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sometimes he fantasizes about that, too, when he's feeling particularly low. There's an appeal to making somebody who won't ever be able to leave him, couldn't possibly hurt him. But while a master can control a spawn physically, he still can't control their hearts (unbeating as they may be). He'd always know, somewhere deep down, that Iorveth didn't really love him, and it would make him go mad.

So:
] No. Well, not for long.

[ A vampire ascendant, maybe, but very soon not a spawn. He sucks gently at Iorveth's wrist, almost casual, like this is just as normal as post-coital cuddling. ]

If I fed you my own blood, then you'd be a true vampire. [ Teasing: ] Honestly, Iorveth, if you're going to be married to one, you really should brush up on the lore.
nibbling: (pic#17292425)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-09 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ Astarion licks a few more times at the soft skin of Iorveth's wrist before he relinquishes it, fitting himself against Iorveth's body as best he can with this stupid leg in the way. Even worse than cockblocking, it's cuddleblocking him. ]

I don't know.

[ The lore isn't exactly his strong suit. He only knows the basics: you become a spawn, and then your master dangles the prospect of letting you drink his blood and become a true vampire in front of your face to torture you for two hundred years. Simple. ]

If there's a ritual to become a vampire ascendant, which, honestly, I'm not even certain is a real thing... [ It sounds fake!! How many fucking levels of vampire are there? ] ...then I'm sure there must be an alternative way to rise through the ranks from a spawn, as well.

[ With the power of devils on your side, it seems you can do just about anything. As long as you pay the price. ]

I guess I never gave it much thought, after— [ Giving up the ascendancy. He already sacrificed the greatest power he could ever have in the world; his lot in life was fairly cemented at that point. ]
nibbling: (pic#17335027)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-09 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ugh!! Another downside of these injuries: he can't both hold Iorveth's hand and pinch his cheek. Justified in hating Iorveth. Astarion could never be justified in hating him — and he could never hate him. Iorveth could betray him in every possible way, and there would still always be a part of him that longed for Iorveth's love. ]

The only reason to have that world-changing power is to protect you. [ Yes, he wants to be safe himself, but it's become less and less important. Not because he's somehow healed and found that the world is not an inherently dangerous place, but because he's simply shifted his neuroticism onto Iorveth's safety instead. ] The hag would have been a fine paste rubbed into that ugly carpet.

[ And it would have been glorious. If he had only ascended, he would have been able to save Iorveth, really save him, rather than just taking him and running. ]

...But I suppose seven thousand souls is quite a steep price to pay. [ He squeezes Iorveth's hand. ] And your disapproving scowl would have been too much to bear.
nibbling: (pic#16872694)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-09 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Horrifically, Astarion actually giggles like a besotted schoolboy under the barrage of Iorveth's affection. Iorveth makes him feel— light. Unburdened. Like he really is young again, untouched and untainted. Like he's perfect the way he is. ]

I am particularly wonderful, [ he agrees. ] As are you. Hence why we make the perfect match.

[ There's only one thing he'd ever change about Iorveth, and it's that awful mortality. At least Iorveth isn't a human, or gods forbid, a halfling or gnome. He'd be beside himself if he thought he only had, what, fifty or sixty years before Iorveth's demise. No, he's lucky, really. Iorveth's elvenhood has never meant much to Astarion, but he's grateful for it. It gives him time. ]

...Besides, the whole 'turning you into a vampire' idea is really more of a plan B. I'd hate to bury you six feet under, darling, even for a day. And not only because you know I hate digging.

[ Although that's definitely part of it. Astarion's own death was one of the most traumatizing experiences of his existence. Forcing Iorveth to go through the same would be harrowing.

He'd do it, if he had to. But there are plenty of options to explore.
]
nibbling: (pic#17335021)

[personal profile] nibbling 2025-07-10 12:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Astarion practically glows with happiness. Yes, that's exactly how he feels. An absence of Iorveth would be too terrible to bear. It seems very clear that the way his life has gone has been "no Iorveth = awful" and "yes Iorveth = pretty good"; an Iorveth is necessary for things to be all right. ]

Luckily for you, I've already cheated death.

[ Sure, that's discounting the fact that he very much can still die if (and when, probably) someone gets irritated enough with him to kill him, but at least that pesky old age won't get him. ]

Vampirism has its drawbacks, to be sure, but at least I'm not a hideous zombie like that Conway fellow.

[ He's referring to Connor, Mayrina's poor husband. ]