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[thirsted]

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ASTARION

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[thirsted]

[ this fuckin nerd ....... ]

We all were, as far as I can tell. But I wasn't affected as severely as some of the others — I had no role, my compulsion was only to cast my vote.

Alia Atreides, Danny Johnson, Louis de Pointe du Lac, David Collins, Lauralae, Jem Walker, and Eddie Munson were the wolves — those compelled to kill.

[ Which he fully expects will lead Gale to interrogate all of them, but better them than him— ]

I should mention Lauralae is from our world. She is of the Feywild, but found her way to Faerûn.

[corporeity]

[ A new thought: Would Astarion confess if he were badly affected? Yes, Gale decides, after a spot of needling. ]

I’ve jotted the names down, thank you.

[ nerd!!! ]

Of the Feywild! Now, that is something. I’ll have much to ask her, it seems.

[ He takes a moment to write down his questions so he doesn’t forget, in all the excitement. ]

I do, however, have more for you first.
Do they procide adequate sustenance for you here?

[thirsted]

[ Is Astarion going to sneak into Gale's room to check his notes later, maybe, maybe not. (Is he touched by Gale asking, maybe.) ]

They actually serve carafes of blood at mealtimes, if you can believe it.

[ Though he's partaken only sparingly — blood being served without any hint of its provenance is the kind of gift horse it's perhaps worth looking in the mouth. (He thinks of Hawk, then, too — of Matt's offer of blood. Not that he's taken either of them up on it, yet, but it seems like only a matter of time.) ]

I've made do.

What of yourself? Your appetite was once rather
unconventional.

[corporeity]

[ Follow-up questions knock against his teeth. But do you indulge? When he’d taken to the boar rather than bite his companions. It’s blatant, inconsiderate curiosity, rather than the protective instinct that drove his initial query.

His mother would disapprove. ]

I believe stabilising the orb has ceased its consumption. [ of magical objects, of his very person. ] Though the hunger remains.

[ An infinite, insatiable thing, hollowing him out. It can no longer devour, merely wait.

Belatedly, he realises that isn’t particularly helpful to admit to one who seems almost — concerned for his wellbeing. ]

It’ll pass, I’m sure.

[ he lied, lyingly. ]

[thirsted]

[ That's a relief, at least, though some part of him wishes that the Balfours had had to deal with Gale's imminent implosion — perhaps that would have finally incentivized their hosts to make the nature of the house somewhat clearer.

But it's a cruel thought in its own right — Gale's condition isn't something to be used. ]

Hunger is a wretched thing.

[ He ought to know. Before the words — the phantom of concern — can really stick: ]

I may know how to acquire a few enchanted items, if you have need of them.

[corporeity]

[ An echo of that concern, uneasy that Astarion should know an even greater, centuries-longer hunger than what afflicts Gale. Camaraderie, too, when understanding is a rare thing.

All swept away by the segue, naturally. ]

You know I won’t condone thievery.

1/3

[thirsted]

[ ????????????????????????????? ]

2/3

[thirsted]

[ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ]

[thirsted]

[ Completely bypassing the fact that the route he'd been thinking of taking involved no thievery at all: ]

Starve, then, see if I care!

1/2

[corporeity]

[ ??????????????? ]

2/3 jk

[corporeity]

[ TYPING DOTS FOR A FULL MINUTE ]

INT CHECK ✔️ WIS CHECK ❌

[corporeity]

I’ve offended you.

[ but he doesn’t understand how……… ]

[thirsted]

[ After typing out and deleting I'm capable of solving problems through more than petty thievery: ]

Why don't you try eating the house? It's a magical object, isn't it? Brick by brick, it ought to last you years.

[corporeity]

I don’t literally eat magical artefacts, Astarion.

[ a beat. ]

And I suspect the magic at work here tastes most foul.

[ regina george voice: so you admit it. you eat them. ]

I'M SORRY

[thirsted]

So you admit it. You eat them.

1/?????

[corporeity]

I don’t eat them!

[corporeity]

Do you imagine I unhinge my jaw and swallow a suit of armour whole?

[ what the fuck!!!! ]

3/4 🥹

[corporeity]

It’s
The magic
I [ typing and deleting “eat” ] consume the magic

4/4

[corporeity]

And I might not even need to any longer, thanks to Mystra’s
Mercy

[ sure. let’s call it mercy. ]

1/2

[thirsted]

[ ]

[thirsted]

It would be more impressive if you could unhinge your jaw.

[corporeity]

Ever so sorry to disappoint.

I’m sure one of the other wizards here could perform such juvenile feats of transfiguration to amuse you.

[ just checking have you replaced him haha…………….. say no. ]

[thirsted]

None I'd trust.

[ Is he being nice??? ]

I'll wait to ask you again until you're feeling more amenable to being fun and charming.

[corporeity]

I suppose it’s a good thing you’ve eternal life.

[ get it because he’s a buzzkill 95% of the time.

but he does feel better, soothed by that invocation of trust above others. ]

Speaking of our fellows, I met the vampire Armand.

[thirsted]

[ NOW whose turn is it to ask if they've been replaced ..... ]

Did he try reaching into your mind, too?

He has a few friends, here — Lestat and Louis are of his brood as well.