ace of cups, king of swords, the chariot
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Summary
Astarion. Gorgeous face, mediocre liar, capable burglar, virtuoso killer. The kind of skill set the Zhentarim would certainly have in their employ. Could be current, could be former. Basquiat always hated to deal with them at the Mermaid—especially compared to the Guild—but they do know how to deal. Part of the right approach involves holding certain cards very, very close to the chest.
A game, then, of how and when and who will show their hand first.
Or: Basquiat knows a liar when they see one; they just can't fit the puzzle pieces together quite right. || Early Act 1. Astarion x nonbinary!Tav.
Series
- Part 1 of ace of cups, king of swords, the chariot
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Summary
A shadow flickers over Basquiat’s face; Astarion only realizes how close he’s drawn to them when they lean back. “Then why not leave?”
Not quite pin-drop silence—a frog screams somewhere far off—but the question hangs in the air as much as the stench of the swamp itself.
“Say that again,” he says, slowly, almost dangerously.
Or: Astarion should know by now that beggars can't be choosers. Unfortunately for him, Basquiat seems like the choosy type. || Early Act 1. Astarion x nonbinary!Tav.
Series
- Part 2 of ace of cups, king of swords, the chariot
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Summary
Let them think he has to beg. That he wants to beg for it. He almost does, just to see their reaction. And it’s far from the worst debasement he’s endured, to be thought of like a displacer beast being tamed.
So he purrs. “Please.”
And there, the scar across Basquiat’s mouth lifts in a satisfied little smile. Astarion sees that window again, wide, wide open, and knows he’s cleared the sill.
Or: Astarion makes a debut, of sorts. || Act 1 Emerald Grove Tiefling Party. Astarion x nonbinary!Tav.
Series
- Part 3 of ace of cups, king of swords, the chariot
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Summary
Astarion makes a sound somewhere between offended and amused. When they glance at him he’s still got that usual cavalier look on his face and he’s so perfectly good-looking that they want to fuck it all up.
And then an idea sparks in Basquiat’s brain—not a good idea, certainly, but it’s an idea.
“Try it with me?” they suggest.
Or: Basquiat makes some questionable decisions, and ropes Astarion along for the ride. || Late Act 1, just before Rosymorn Monastery. Astarion x nonbinary!Tav.
Series
- Part 4 of ace of cups, king of swords, the chariot
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Summary
A flicker of that hellfire gaze, first to his eyes, then his hands. In the quiet he can hear the quickening of their heart, and he starts to feel the usual smug self-satisfaction of a trap well-executed, until—
“I thought you weren’t keen on that. On sharing.”
A complete revolution in tone and cadence: low, airy, a hint too sweet. Are they really trying to outplay him? Gods below, the utter cheek.
This is nothing. He can step out of this honey-trap any time he wants.
Or: Astarion's nice, simple plan is already running into complications. || Late Act 1, Rosymorn Monastery/Crèche Y’llek. Astarion x nonbinary!Tav. Directly follows ‘just curious enough’.
Series
- Part 5 of ace of cups, king of swords, the chariot
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Summary
If Basquiat’s expression flickers, Astarion does not notice. In fact, he doesn’t seem to notice any change in them at all. He laughs bright and smooth, as though he had not shifted their conversation in the first place. “I am,” he says. “It’s hard not to with you.” A little of the predator has left the elf’s eye, and now his look is almost fond. As though there’s genuine care lurking underneath the whole facade.
The threat of honesty would be insulting if it wasn’t so fucking tempting.
Or: Basquiat catches on quicker than they should have, but resigns to play the game a little longer. || Early Act 2. Astarion x nonbinary!Tav.
Series
- Part 6 of ace of cups, king of swords, the chariot
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Summary
The thought makes Astarion’s teeth itch. It makes him jealous in the wrong ways. Anxious in the wrong ways. Like he wants to tear his own dead heart from between his ribs and serve it to them on stolen silver, if they could sing it back to beating. As though that kind of poetic drivel isn’t, shouldn’t be, anathema to him.
Because it’s more frightening if it’s not.
Or: Basquiat comes back to camp injured. Astarion doesn't know how to leave well enough alone. || Early Act 2. Astarion x nonbinary!Tav. Directly follows ‘be content to barter’.
Series
- Part 7 of ace of cups, king of swords, the chariot