december open log

[subigito]

Who: Astarion & Anyone!
Status: Open
Where: All over! It's a catchall.
What: Housewarming Party, December Event, And Some Manta Prompts!
Warnings: It is Astarion so it's gonna get nsfw



[ check the comments! maybe i'll link them here eventually and maybe it'll just be a mystery! ]

Comments

housewarming party + mistletoe bats

[subigito]

[ So you may have heard that Astarion bought a house fit for an entire armada which is only a little bit (like 20%) haunted. He's spent a little time getting it fit for a party and now the time has come to open up his house to anyone who wants to stop by and say hello! And I do mean anyone! Astarion does know how to throw a party and there's plenty of food and wine, a fire going in the hearth of a big room with lots of chairs and couches for mingling.

Of course, he might be just a little more pleased if they show up with a gift. Isn't that the point of a housewarming? Even a plant will do, because I will be honest the vibe here is definitely that a vampire lives here. Some of the furniture still has the layer of dust it came with, and some rooms might be entirely empty!

Unfortunately, opening his home seems to have invited a few other guests. The bats aren't doing anything to help the vampire vibe, although they are festive! But he is determined to have a good housewarming, with or without the bats.

Of course, he'll be mingling and trying to chat with everyone. Something like: ]

Thank you for coming. It's nice to have a chance to get caught up, isn't it?

[standingonmyneck]

Wow, you weren’t kidding. This place definitely is haunted.

[Bats included? Wow. Daria walked inside the party, openly accepting any invites. It was Astarion, by law you go to a friend’s house. That’s in the friend book. Daria was already strapped for the holidays in motion, as much as she disliked them…she wanted to get her friends something special. She cared about that at least, shhhh. But you don’t show to a house party empty-handed.

When Jane landed her first apartment after graduation for an internship, Daria got her an easel. What do you give a guy like Astarion for their haunted house? Maybe a cool vase.

She walked around the halls a few moments before turning around to look at Astarion with an honest to goodness pleased expression.]

It’s pretty awesome.

[subigito]

It is, isn't it?

[ This is said with a distinct hint of pride that isn't his normal, haughty, fake-it-til-you-make-it sense of confidence. There's something deeper here. This is the awe of someone who has never had his own personal space, being blessed with something so amazingly large. In other words, this place is meaningful to him in a way very little else is.

And he's glad to see she likes it too.

While she walks around, he sets the vase on a table, and turns it that way and this way, trying to decide how to best display it. Realistically he should put flowers in there but....flowers. ]

Xenk started a crew, so it's rather good timing all around.

[standingonmyneck]

With all this space, I imagine you have to fill it with something. People you actually like works.

[Daria was very happy for him.

It was nice to finally be in a weird place that gave people who deserved it a real place to succeed. She’s seen earned second chances in far better circumstances. Like sure, capitalism beats apocalypse. But to EXCELL was a different story. A large home made for them, earned by them, was a different beast.]

But look at you, looking like a proper rich bastard with your first fancy party.

[subigito]

I can't say I imagined I'd have a list of "people I actually like."

[ You can't just point that out Daria!!! Now he has to think about that. People he likes.....terrible.

At least her other comment gives him an out. He laughs happy to move away from the topic of friendship. ]

I am! It's much better being the rich bastard who can throw these things than the poor soul skulking around looking for someone to take home.

[ Yes, that's an absolutely normal thing to say in casual conversation. ]

[triple]

( so, he's fashionably late ( because he was really going somewhere else but wound up here; lucky happenstance there's a party so he can pretend this was his destination the whole time ) and he wanders inside looking around. it takes him a bit before he learns who the house even belongs to and he's looking around even harder because he vaguely remembers something about ghosts. the only ghosts he's ever dealt with were absolute shit, and he doesn't want to deal with that again.

the vibe is fine and reminds him of someone...s; it hits him with a weird wave of nostalgia he's not used to. sounds like it's time to find something to drink.

it's on his way to hold up a wall somewhere and rubbing his forehead where a bat may or may not have bitten him, when he bumps into astarion. he jerks a thumb toward them scuttling around, )

Friends of yours?

( the good ( ?? ) part is that zoro's none the wiser about the whole vampire thing. )

[subigito]

[ Zoro out here once again with brilliant powers of deduction. ]

No, unfortunately they've decided to take up residence here. Be careful though, they're a bit mischievous. The have...ulterior motives.

wildcarding it a bit

[netherese]

[Gale has seen fit to contribute to this whole affair by making excellent use of the kitchen— while the Master of the house may have a very particular diet, their guests are likely to want a good deal more variety, so rather than being out mingling, he's spent the first stretch of the party keeping food moving from the kitchen to the party proper. Thankfully, he's had some assistance, and now that all of the food is out and hors d'oeuvres are circulating— with several trays being passed around by floating mage hands courtesy of both Tara and himself— he finds Astarion among the crowd and approaches when the man is between talking to guests, taking the opportunity to join him with a glass of red wine in hand and wearing a weary but satisfied smile.]

And how is our gracious host holding up this evening?

[subigito]

[ Astarion is practically glowing with how happy he is. (Not literally, he's not Edward Cullen.) Everything is going according to plan. People brought him gifts. His house looks amazing.

And, gods, Gale looks cute like that. He's in a good enough mood he forgets that they'd had that rather uncomfortable talk about feelings. ]

Oh, all of this is just wonderful.

[ He's got friends and lovers here, and random people who just showed up which feels absolutely delightful. It feels like home, if home didn't involve a bunch of trauma and a vampire who wants to sacrifice him. ]

I feel... [He looks over at Gale, his smile turning a bit shy. A strange expression for him, perhaps. ] free.

Happy.

[ "I hope it lasts" is on the tip of his tongue, but he doesn't let himself say it. He doesn't want to ruin it, for once. ]

[netherese]

[It's a good look on Astarion, he thinks— a genuine smile rather than one he's put on for show, and once more, he looks so much lighter than he had back in Faerun. Hardly any surprise, given how much distance from their troubles this place has granted them. Dare he say it, it almost feels like they get to be something approaching normal for a short while, which is a remarkable statement when one considers the circumstances.]

You look happy.

[Gale's smile hitches just a bit wider as he offers his affirmation, raising his glass.]

A place to call your own, good friends— a great deal to be happy about, if you ask me.

[Though that uncomfortable talk of theirs hasn't been forgotten on Gale's part, the effort to focus on what their relationship is rather than what it isn't has worked incredibly well so far. Though he does worry that living in the same house may complicate things, tonight, it doesn't trouble him. All things considered, life is being quite kind to them at this moment in time.]

fey fighters

[subigito]

lessons;

[ Astarion asks to learn how to play the violin. He's surprisingly focused in this, treating the violin gently. At first, he's absolutely abysmal in it--Astarion has absolutely no proficiency in instrument performance--but he doesn't give up. There's clearly something here that he cares about.

Afterwards, if he's caught being a little too thoughtful (gasp!) he'll offer a somewhat melancholy smile. ]

A...friend of mine would have liked this. A pity they aren't here to see it.

roll for seduction;

[ Pleasant memories about his "friend" aside, Astarion obviously gets over it pretty quickly, because before long he can be found chatting with the Fey Fighters no longer about music but about other fun things. Complimenting their tails, gently brushing his hand against their own.

And then, (because the mods said I can and because Astarion really is that good), he manages to seduce himself a couple of bards. Maybe you catch a glimpse of them heading off together, or coming back later and sharing a cute little parting kiss. Either way, it seems to have been great for everyone involved! ]

lessons

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk too is practicing an instrument, though in his case he's picked up a flute. It's not an instrument he's used to -- but the idea of picking up a lute seemed wrong. A bard he is not. But he could try.

Well, needless to say he's a natural at it, like with most things. But Astarion catches his eye as he practices. They could both stand to practice, but it's warming to see Astarion trying so hard. Xenk can guess why. He smiles, sympathetic and curious in equal measure. ]

Does your bard frequent the violin?

[subigito]

Yes. I'm sure they knew how to play other things, but it was always their choice.

[ even now, the sound of it reminds him of fighting together. bards, man.

But he won't ask about Xenk's bard. Xenk had said that man was back together with his dead wife, so there was no point to teasing him about it. It was just something painful, at that point. ]

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk nods, knowing well how music can play a vital role in battle. ]

It is a beautiful instrument.

[ Truly Astarion knows him well. But Xenk offers the information of his own will. After all, it isn't sad that Edgin is with his wife. Humans deserve to be with other humans. ]

Edgin plays the lute. Though he was more likely to bludgeon his enemies with it than cast a spell, I believe.

poke 'n prance

[subigito]

[ The real test of this experience is being around so many people who are willingly bleeding, but at least now that he's got fairly regular sources to dirnk from, he's not as desperate as he might have been a couple months ago.

When it comes to the stabbing or being stabbed, though, why, he's an old hat at both! He's exceptionally hard to hit with his uncanny dodge, and he's precise with a blade. It's just about remembering to be non-lethal, really. Well, and you know, the dice gods.

He looks over at his partner with a grin. ]

This'll be fun. Shall we dance?

[cursedwords]

[ He's not bleeding yet. Toge's not an old hat at stabbing. He's had a brief lesson in how to hold a dagger, so yeah, he still looks inexperienced.

He does however have a lot of experience dodging, getting stabbed and as an added bonus a leveled up ring of evasion. ]

Salmon salmon. [ Toge takes his postion. En garde! ]

[subigito]

[ Astarion is quick, feinting left but then attacking right. Luckily for both of them he does know exactly where to stab to not kill someone, and he intends to abide by the rules of the game. ]

[cursedwords]

[ There's no risk of Toge cheating here, he's going to do his best within the confines of the rules.

Astarion is quick. Toge is too, but not quick enough. He does take a good stab in his left bicep. Not fatal.

Toge doesn't even flinch though, he does jump backwards to get off the blade.

He takes his stance again, and charges back in, blood trickling down his arm. ]

[unshod]

[Fenris isn't in his familiar armor, instead in leather pants and a loose white shirt that has a black sash around his waist. It wasn't anything significant. But what was noticeable was the red and blue braided fabrics he was wearing on his wrist - if one were to really look, they would see the red matches the color of a certain pair of eyes and the blue the same color as the armour of another.

He flips the smaller sword in his hand, catching it by the hilt. Long swords weren't what he excelled in, but he wasn't too bad with them either. He would make due and rely on his lyrium ability to become incorporeal to dodge a hit.

He smirks at Astarion.]

Yes, I've thought about dancing with you.

[subigito]

[ Astarion catches the fabric at his wrist--he's far too used to admiring Fenris to miss it--but he doesn't comment on it yet. They've got to fight, first, and this sounds lovely really. ]

Better be careful, Fenris, I bite.

[ With the tease, he lunges for him, trying to use the timing and the comment to his advantage as he aims for his left side. ]

[unshod]

[Before Fenris can make a quippy comment, he brings the sword to parry the blow from his leftside. It was very different from his usual big great-sword. Astarion had the advantage of being dexterous and fast. Fenris was already playing out this fight in his mind and knew he would likely lose, but he wouldn't go down without a fight.]

And I would have you pressed against the wall.

[He takes a step back before feinting left and going right, trying to catch his lover off guard in that moment and strike him. He knew that Astarion would be fine regardless, so he didn't hesitate to strike at him.]

steamy winter heist;

[subigito]

[ Astarion cannot actually use this tea but he does love theft. He also knows that black market things are really a long con, so he intends to steal it for himself and wait a few months before selling it off. And you know, if other people who live at his house want to use a bit of it to have some fun, he's certainly not against that.

Luckily Astarion is a trained rogue so getting to the boxes is an easy task! It's the fact there's someone else there at the same time that's the problem. ]

Why don't you just leave now, and then we can pretend this never happened?

[garudas]

[Excuse you, somewhat familiar voice, she was here first.

Benedikta is in the middle of pocketing a small handful of them from one of the crates that she's busted open when she hears it, but she doesn't deign to turn around to see who it might be, or if her suspicions are correct.

She does, however, stand upright and straighten her shoulders, and there's a laugh that sounds a bit stuffy in this dusty, small cellar.]

Finders, keepers. Or did no one teach you that rule?

[She shoves the satchels away and her hand rests casually on the pommel of her sword.]

[subigito]

[ Astarion puts his hands up, "surrendering" at least for now. ]

Is this like the early bird gets the worm? I do so have trouble with being the early bird though, the morning is really not my time of day. Sometimes you have to get creative.

[garudas]

[Ha. Early bird. Haha, because she's a bird.

She's pretty sure she recognizes that voice now, which only makes her smile pull just a touch wider, the amusement in her voice all too clear despite the fact that she remains with her back to him.]

I can see that.

[An arch of her brow and a cock of her hips, and she turns her head ever so slightly, bringing herself a little further out of the shadows.]

Well, out with it. What manner of threat would you frighten me with?