While everyone prepares for sleep for their impending adventures, Tav is slipping back into her armor. Once fully dressed, she primps herself and then looks around to see if any of her companions have noticed her state of dress. Much to her relief, her companions were either talking amongst themselves, half-asleep, or already dancing in the dreaded world of dreams. She heads towards the door with the quietness and stealth of a noble's teenage daughter, who dreads their ire as she tries not to draw attention to herself. As she nears it, she hears footsteps coming near her, so she quickens her pace and leaves. Now, in the hallway, she thinks she's free, but the door opens after her, and she hears the comforting, familiar voice of Astarion.
"Going to find trouble without us, darling?" Astarion asks, his tone playfully scolding. "Bad idea."
"I'm just getting some fresh air."
She was hoping Astarion would lose interest, but he had that look in his eye that he only gets whenever he wanders off and comes back with more gold than she gave him.
"Well, try not to get yourself killed, dear."
Her brow raises once she realizes she read Astarion's expression all wrong. Relief floods through her as she hears the door close and continues on her way.
Tonight, the tavern is packed, but the entranceway is clear. For a second, she forgets about her destination, enjoying the spectacle of a bustling crowd. It's a perfect night for a bard to perform and rouse the crowd with a song that has a story that won't just entertain but change their very hearts. Maybe she should go onto the roof and see if Alfira is up there. If she is, then she could ask her if she wants to perform together. After, they could laugh and dwell on the lives they might've changed tonight. Yes, it would be a splendid idea if she didn't have a place to go. She forces herself to go forward, walking the last steps of the stairs and heading through the entrance. Once outside, she walks down the small staircase, and once her feet are settled on the street, she pauses. Taking a deep breath, she prays she doesn't lose her nerve. Her hesitation is time enough for someone to stealthily approach her with a familiar flirty drawl.
"Where are we going, my sweet?"
Tav sharply turns in Astarion's direction, seeing him fully dressed in his armor and leaning on the doorway.
"What?" He continues with a playful smile, walking forward. "You didn't really think I wouldn't tag along. Really, dear. What were you ever thinking, trying to leave me behind?"
Astarion stops in front of her as he dramatically gestures to himself.
"Astarion," Tav starts, sighing. "Whatever you think I'm doing, I'm not, so just go back inside. I'll be back later tonight."
"You do remember all of our lives depend on you, don't you? I could leave you, yes, but my beautiful face, oh, and the fate of the world depends on you being alive, so..." Astarion moves his hands up and down as if there's a stack of gold ingots in either palm.
"I'll let you walk with me a bit, and then you'll go back. Okay?" She says much to Astarion's delight.
A wide grin appears on his face as he walks down the stairs and stands by her side. She turns around, then starts walking, and Astarion follows after her. The streets are emptier compared to the crowded tavern, but Tav finds herself liking the silence just as much as a rousing crowd.
The moment, however, is brief as Astarion decides to break the silence, like his fangs after a meeting with the skin of a neck.
"Is this what normal couples do?" Astarion muses, sounding disappointed. "Take normal strolls at night like easy prey begging to be killed."
"I've strolled with a couple of suitors in my day, well, night," Tav admits. "My family home has a beautiful garden, not that my suitors and I paid much attention to the flowers."
"Ahh, so you've never strolled the streets of Baldurs Gate then. Am I your first?" He asks with a bit too much enthusiasm.
"Hmm, I guess you would be, but I've also never romanced a vampire before, so..."
"Well, here's a bit of future advice, you should get used to nightly walks if you intend to pursue one."
His tone is full of sadness that tugs on Tav's heart. Once the tadpoles were gone, Astarion would have to give up the sun. Tav wished she could pocket every moment that she and Astarion spent basking in its warmth together, but she knew soon enough that those memories, along with his own, would become bitter reminders of what he couldn't have.
"I don't mind any walk with you, Astarion, well, except this one."
"Hmm, yes, you seem rather keen on me leaving. It's rather rude, dear." Astarion sucks his teeth as he pouts a bit.
"If you must know, Astarion, I'm visiting someone."
"Ooh, who? Not Sharess' Caress again because, really, darling, I'm starting to think you have a type."
"What?!" Tav says a bit too loudly.
Looking around, she sees some people nearby glancing in her direction.
Adjusting her tone, she continues. "No, I—I told you I didn't know they were the reward. Besides, I didn't think he was that handsome."
"Sure, you don't." Astarion quips.
Tav glances at him, spotting the insecurity on his face. She stops walking. "Astarion, I don't think..."
She lets her voice trail off and continues onto a new topic.
"It doesn't matter. Why did you even follow after me?"
Astarion stops walking too, frozen in place.
"Because something is clearly bothering you, and I thought people talk about things like that when, you know," Astarion's voice trails as he says his next word like it's a dirty little secret. "together."
"I–Astarion, no, I'm fine."
"You've spent so much time talking about how much you missed Baldur's gate and wanted to go home, but now we're here and... I don't know. You seem a bit deflated. Tell me, dear, is having the fate of my gorgeous self and the whole city, nay, the world's fate on your shoulders, getting to you?"
"Astarion, is this supposed to be you comforting me?" Tav wonders.
"Should we just hug and get it over with, darling?" Astarion wonders, lifting his arms for a hug. "Come to your favorite cuddly, Astarion."
Tav continues walking, and Astarion follows.
"I know, I know, I'm bad at this, my sweet. If I were to comfort you with my body, all of your worries are guaranteed to disappear," Astarion says with distaste, and it causes Tav to stop.
Astarion doesn't realize Tav has stopped walking, so he's a bit ahead of her. Once he does, he turns, looking at her with intense eyes.
"I want to tell you every comforting word I can, but I don't know how," Astarion admits, then gestures to his body. "All I know is how to use this for pleasure."
"Astarion, I enjoy the pleasure of your company, not your body. You."
"So you keep telling me," Astarion says, frowning. "But I'm struggling a bit, dear."
"Why?"
"I told you that I didn't want to be seen…sexually, especially by you. And look at you! You want me—actually me—and I don't know what to do about it. Sometimes I struggle to believe it's real, like when we entered the brothel, and gods, have you seen how Halsin looks at you?"
Tears brim in Astarion's eyes. "What have I become? I'm just some insecure, sniveling idiot who's so afraid you'll throw him away."
"You're not an idiot, Astarion," Tav says in a sincere tone. "And I'd be a fool to throw the sweetest person away."
"Beautiful." Astarion coughs.
"Sorry?" Tav says, confused.
"You forgot to say beautiful. It's fine, dear, people always forget about my beauty when they describe me."
Tav rolls her eyes and then, in a monotone voice, says, "Oh, Astarion, my precious Astarion. I would be a fool not to describe your beauty, which was plucked from the night sky itself. Why, that must be why you shine like a star and are as sweet as the sunlight on a cold day."
Astarion sniffles a bit, clapping. "Darling, usually I'm not that fond of bards, but you are no talentless hack, dear. Bravo."
Tav bows. "Thank you, Astarion."
"You're welcome, darling. I've always seen myself as inspirational, so I'm glad that I inspire you."
Tav chuckles. "Yes, I wasn't fibbing to Ulma about considering writing a song about you."
"I'd love to hear what you've managed so far, my sweet."
"Another time, Astarion, but I assure you, whatever I write will make everyone love you just as much as I do."
Astarion smiles—a soft smile with a bit of awkwardness. He always seemed to get a bit uncomfortable whenever Tav told him she loved him. Earlier in their relationship, he had told her how the phrase was a worthless tool used to lure in prey. Whenever the word came up, she saw contempt flash in his eyes, but lately, she's noticed the contempt lessening and becoming his current awkward state.
"Why I do adore being fawned over... I don't think anyone can love me the way you do, my sweet. You see me in a way no one ever has before, and it's a precious gift."
"I'm glad you've given me the chance to know you, Astarion. It would've been a real shame if you sliced my throat during our first meeting."
Astarion grimaces. "Yes, it would've been."
Tav holds out her hand for Astarion to take. Astarion moves forward, taking Tav's hand in his.
"You make me into a blubbering fool," Astarion complains, using his free hand to wipe away his tears that seemed resistant to stopping.
Tav reaches up, touching the hand Astarion used to wipe his tears with her free one. She grabs it, pulling it close to her heart.
"I love you," she says, her voice quiet.
"Oh, just hold me, already," Astarion says, and Tav drops her hold on his hands to wrap him in a tight hug.
"Astarion," she says, leaning on his chest now.
"Yes, darling?"
"I left because I'm going to check on my family. With Gortash's status upgrade, and his forcing of nobles to endorse him…I–"
"Oh, no," A realization crosses Astarion's face as he cuts off Tav with an assumption. "Were one of the dead nobles your parents?"
"Really darling, tell someone if we're walking on top of your parents' corpses. I'd at least tried to be a bit more respectful," Astarion continues.
"No, Astarion, we did not walk on my parents' corpses, but I am worried. I was just going to go to my family's estate in the upper city to check on them."
"Isn't the upper city blocked, darling?"
"Yes, which was why I was going to sneak in."
"Well, how about we both sneak in, darling? I am an expert at getting into places where I don't belong."
"Alright, but please don't try to rob my parents."
Astarion pulls away from the hug, looking at Tav, offended.
"Darling, I have some decorum, you know. Why ever would I rob my sweet's parents? Really?"
"Who went through my pouch when I was knocked out by an enemy and took the gear I was going to give to Shadowheart?" Tav asks, dropping her arms to her side.
"You always give everyone else better gear than me," he whines. "You would think I'd have higher priority being your lover and all, but no, it's always the shinest things to everyone else but Astarion."
"Who was the one who was selling our expensive gear so they could buy luxurious clothes?"
"I deserve to look good, darling," Astarion says in a defensive tone, moving to Tav's side. "Besides, I've stopped doing that. I'm a semi-changed man now."
"I hope you know my family has traps set in our house everywhere, and no, I won't be telling you where they are," Tav says, looping her arms with Astarion.
"Fine, but just so you know, I truly have no desire to rob your family."
"None at all?" Tav says, sounding shocked.
"Yes, darling, because I already have the most precious treasure."
"Really, what?"
"Your heart."