thirsted | SALTBURNT

SALTBURNT | inbox.

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

USERNAME
ASTARION

text 🩸 audio 🩸 video

[ That gets a laugh— then a pause. You trust him? Hardly a light question, at least where Astarion's concerned. He hesitates — to tell the truth, to lie, to joke— ]

I do, but don't tell him that.

Your secret's safe with me.

Just wanted to be sure. He's friendly enough, but even friendly can be dangerous. My loyalty's with you here. We got enough sketchy shit going on in this place to have to worry about one of our own.

Was thinking of going for a swim later - it's a little cold but a prefer it that way at night. Lake's quiet under the moon. You want to join?

I'd say we could invite your friend but he might wake up the whole manor with his chattering.

Quite right. The last thing we need is another object of suspicion.

I'd like that.

[ A beat. ]

I haven't swum since I was turned. I couldn't. Though it sounds as though you weren't bound by the same restriction.

If the water's cold enough, it might even just be the chattering of his teeth. Perhaps we'll see some other night.

I grew up in an area that's full of swamp and water. Was probably born able to deep sea dive.

[ an exaggeration of course, but still. ]

So you don't know how to swim, or you couldn't for other reasons? I'll definitely teach you if you don't know. We'll listen to Gale sputter and chatter while we do. Sure he's gotta be valiant while we're not suffering the cold at all.

Vampires of my realm cannot pass through running water. Which is to say, I may need a lesson or two.

It'll be the three of us, then, if that pleases you.

I could hold you up - pretty used to swimming myself.

Either way, we definitely got to make him get in. Think it could be a good laugh for both of us.