So we all agree that once the player is partnered with Astarion, they're cuddling to sleep every night right?
The man hasn't had soft or non sexual intimacy in literal lifetimes. You'd have to literally peel him off of you in the mornings because he enjoys cuddling so much.
As it should be! He can have as much gentle touch as he wants the poor thing deserves that at least.
My personal head cannon about my Durge and Astarion is that they’re rarely intimate sexually for many reasons. But they cuddle all the time and when they do they talk absolute shit about random NPCs they’ve met so far on their journey. Something along the lines of:
*durge, lying on astys chest in comfortable silence*
A: …so Raphael’s definitely a bottom yeah?
D: oh absolutely. Did you SEE what he’s wearing? Those ruffles aren’t giving dominant energy
A: …I wear ruffles
D: yes but you’re not begging complete strangers to do your bidding
A: ….am I not???
D: ok so do you want me to say you’re a bottom too?
“Astarions reaction to Durge dying when rejecting Bhaal is so nonchalant. It’s like he doesn’t care”
Consider. He just witnessed the only person he has ever cared about die while being able to do nothing about it. Then the weird skeleton guy who’s dusty ass has been chilling in the camp this whole time just shows up and fixes it. He lost everything then gained it back within moments.
I’d be in a bit of a shock. Wouldn’t you?
Dudes still processing whatever the fuck happened. They talk about it later and he expresses how relieved he is that things ended up how they did.
Something I noticed about the interaction with Araj and Astarion.
Almost immediately when she mentioned him. He does this “ex fuckin scuse me” face yes but he also LEANS heavily towards the direction of the player. His body language is very telling about how he feels in the interaction.
Like there’s this subconscious understanding that the player is good and safe so he wants to be closer to them as he’s made uncomfortable.
He steps and leans away from Araj and toward you, and looks to you for help with the situation when she’s like
“I assume he belongs to you?”
His body language is tense yes but it’s also seeking safety which in this moment is you.