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"My sweet."
Astarion's voice echoes in the small cave you had decided to shelter in for the night. It was a wretched, damp and uncomfortable little thing, full of spiderwebs and broken spider eggs. But you take what you can get in the Underdark. Especially since the cave has a hidden mouth that you managed to cover with a boulder. Meaning that, for once, you and Astarion will be able to sleep together at the same time. You can't wait until you get to those rascal vampire spawn, so they can take watch (Astarion will make them do it, you're sure of it). You sit down next to the double bedroll and cushions. Maybe, there is a bit of a pout on your face.
"I love you, but we can't use fire to cook tonight. This cave will hold the smoke. I don't want to hear you sneakily say ignis when I turn my back. You aren't sneaky."
The pout deepens.
"Buuuuuut I haven't eaten nice food in weeks. And, y'know, it's fine. I'm fine with it. You know I'd forsake all food to be here with you. But… but… I struck gold, finding that meat and spices on the dead adventurer in that drider's web! I… I don't wanna let it spoil. Baaaabe…. "
You put on your best doe eyes, kneeling and begging like it's a matter of life and death. You clutch at his gorgeous but worn black leather boots. He still looks gorgeous as composed as always, even standing in a damp cave after walking for days. You wonder if vampire spawn sweat.
"You're lucky you're adorable, love. Maybe I don't remember what it's like to eat something other than blood. Also craving a specific food. But I feel for you. Ugh, you're a big baby, you know? And it's rubbing off on me."
You grin, a toothy and adorable smile.
"Don't we have an ice something-something scroll?"
Yes… the scroll of Ray of Frost of course!! You almost reach your hand in your pack before the tragic realization.
"I… used it to slow down the ugly Spectator that was chasing us."
He cocks his head to the side, like he feels for you but also like he can't help making fun of you just a tad.
"Yeah, well, maybe you should have thought about your precious meat before wasting the scroll."
You sniffle loudly and dramatically.
"Ugh, love, I can't stand you sniffling, even if it's not for real. I promise you, tomorrow we'll find a nice cave or something that can handle smoke and all your ignis-ing. If not, I'll try something to… well, I don' t know, but we'll find something good for you."
We. We. We. You can't help but grin like a big idiot again. The sappy comment comes out before you can even think of stopping it.
"I can't believe we saved Baldur's Gate. And I got my happy ending with you. "
"Love… is that really how little it takes to distract you from eating cold, bland food for weeks?"
You nod.
"Ugh, that's adorable."
Astarion finally joins you on the double bedroll. Shabby, half-torn from being on your back during fights, but warm, and padded just right. Plus, you’d gotten it while out in the town with Astarion. In Baldur’s Gate, when hope was stretched thin, a shady vendor had jumped in front of you:
>“QUEEN-SIZE BEDROLLS!! FOR ADVENTURERS WHO WANT TO KEEP EACH OTHER WARM AT NIGHT!! LIMITED STOCK, FELLOWS OF BALDUR’S GATE. AND A HEAVY DISCOUNT! JUST A TINY TAD OVER THE PRICE OF BUYING TWO BEDROLLS.”
You’d laughed. Astarion had looked at you for a split second, and then laughed as well. The stupid queen-sized bedroll had brought a small ray of hope in the form of a regular street swindler. A hope that there were still adventures to be had. That both of you would not only make it out, but want to keep going together. You ended up buying the stupid thing at full price. No haggling whatsoever. Even now, you take turns mending and re-stuffing it. It’s been through a few fireballs, but, without saying a word about it, neither of you have given up on the stupid thing.
For now, you give up on your dreams of a warm, hearty meal and sink your teeth in some delicious…. raw tomatoes. The memories of the double bedroll make it taste just a bit sweeter. You're never getting rid of the stupid thing.
"I mean, I did ask for this, after all. Following a bunch of vampire spawn with another vampire spawn at my side. Goodbye, good food. I'll miss you."
"You're so dumb. Besides, look at the big picture, darling. You'll have an army of vampires hunting for food and foraging stuff for you. You'll be the sovereign of all of us, living in luxury. Today was a little bump in the road, in your red carpet of luxury living. I'm going to do it, you know. Make a red carpet wherever you walk."
"Metaphorically?"
"Yes, darling, the only non-metaphorical way to do it would be a path of the blood of our enemies. Which would be incredibly inefficient, sticky under your boots, and not to mention, wasteful, love."
"Mhm… I like it when you call me love."
Astarion can't help but chuckle. It's lower, more sincere, and full of love, compared to how it was when you traveled with him in search of the Elder Brain.
"You really are simple minded. Love."
You finish up your three (3) raw tomatoes. Astarion is sprawled next to you, looking intently at your majestic dinner. His red eyes focus on a few drops of tomato juices running down your forearm. You lick them up with a wink.
"Eating cold, raw food for two weeks has sucked all the interesting things out of my body. My personality is next. I'll soon be just a shell of the Hero of Baldur's Gate. Speaking of sucking-"
"What an elegant way to put it."
"Drink up."
Astarion hasn't fed on you in days. You know he must be craving it. You haven't found suitable food for him in a couple of days. You tilt your head, exposing your neck to him. You shiver from the cold air that runs over it.
"No."
"Huh? Is… does eating raw vegetables for a week straight spoil my blood as well as my personality?"
"No, my sweet. Mh, actually, yes, but that's also not the point. I can tell you're weak. We walk around in search for the other spawn every day. You haven't eaten a proper hot meal in so long. Plus, we have to fight, and always have our guard up. I'm not going to add to that by draining you."
"Well, yes please don't drain me but, please, at least drink a little bit. I can tell you're hungry as well. Take a sip. I'll fully recover as I rest during the night"
"No. That's final. I'm not going to get a gourmet meal from your supple neck and worsen your situation, all the while you can't eat decent food."
"Wha-? You… Astarion, babe! You're adorable! That's adorable! You are the love struck simple minded one!"
"Yes. You made me this way. So I'm not 'taking a sip'. I'll endure for a bit. Just like you are."
"Babe, I'm not some frail, sick being. I'm just complaining too much because I crave some hot food. And because I just like whining and complaining. But this stuff is sustaining me. I'm fine, and I have energy. Don't worry. C'mon."
"Are you just egging me on because you like feeling my fangs in your neck?"
"Maybe. Perhaps. Could be. Who knows, really."
Astarion’s face relaxes for a moment. He looks just like how he used to, in the early mornings from your adventure, when you traveled together with tadpole infested minds, and he would gaze at the dawn every single morning.
If you had cast a scroll of Detect Thoughts during the day, you would probably try to peer into his thoughts. And yet your search would come up empty, for his mind is strangely quiet. A blanket of warmth envelops him, quieting his mind in the way only love could. He’d probably slap himself if he realized.
Instead, he smiles. Again.
“Just a sip, then.”
You nod, the giddy smile still plastered on your face. You lean back on the double bedroll, your favorite object ever, and get into the Cuddle-Snack position (awaiting copyright approval from the Faerûn Copyright and Other Rights Guild). It’s a full-blown cuddle position: Astarion, or whichever vampire you have on hand, lying face up. You, half of your body next to his, the other half on top. Your body a bit higher up than his, cradling his head to the level of your chest/neck. One leg wrapped around his chest. His one hand on your butt, holding you steady but getting a little feel at the same time (necessary for the cuddle-snack to work). Most importantly, your bodies snuggled up together as close as possible, in whichever position they fit together the best.
He immediately gets the hint, of course. His arms and body are around you in a flash. With a quick pinch on the butt, he nestles his face into your neck. That's the thing about Cuddle-Snack: it’s a cuddle first and foremost. The cuddle part sandwiches the snack part. Heh. Sandwiches. Gods. You miss sandwiches.
You feel Astarion sink his face into your neck. He's nuzzling it. He's nuzzling you. You went through the Hells and back (literally), and Astarion is here, Cuddle-Snacking with you. Even if he hates the name. Your fingers naturally find their way through the back of his hair and start to massage his scalp. You close your eyes without dozing off. Astarion's body temperature cools you down perfectly. And you warm him up just perfectly, protecting him from the chill of the cave. You love this life. Even with the raw tomatoes.