[ Once upon a time, Astarion might have wilted at the notion of spending the rest of his long, eternal life in the Hells.
Coming back to the House of Hope as someone to languish there as a guest rather than as a desperate attempt to steal items under the gaze of a devil isn't what he had anticipated, but he had never thought that he would be so desperate to spend his days with Karlach, either. When the two of them had first met he had imagined her to be a dutiful protector, someone that he could use and manipulate to keep himself safe, but... It wasn't long until he realised it wasn't necessary for him to manipulate her at all.
She would protect him because she is, at heart, a good and wonderful person. It had been so painful for him to begin with, knowing she had been there in Baldur's Gate and would have, if she had known, tried to save him long before they had met, but he has forced himself to push those kinds of thoughts away. All it will do is make him sad and sour, and when he has finally found a place of happiness, finally found somewhere to belong... He does not want to ruin it with his own self-deprecating.
They're comfortable here, the two of them together, and he doesn't have to overthink the reasons why. He and Karlach have sworn to make the most of the life that she has, and the fact that she had agreed to this despite her fears means more to him than he could ever express. The idea of losing her when he had just found her was impossible to imagine, and until they can find a way to repair her heart for good, he will spend as long as it takes in the Hells themselves if it means he can stay with her.
It's not difficult to hear her approach, lacking stealth as she does without a reason to try, and he lifts his head from where he is lounging, content and pleased. Taking over the rooms of a rather indulgent devil does have enough perks for someone like Astarion who has often enjoyed the taste of the finer things in life, and his expression warms as he sees Karlach. He could be a little more verbose about his affection for her, but he thinks she knows.
He's here, is he not? He has his freedom, for whatever it is worth, and he has chosen to spend it with her. ]
My skin still acts like mortal skin, so yes. I will get more wrinkly than I already am, you can keep the jokes to yourself.
[ His eyes drag over her body as it's bared, and his lips curl a little. ]
Is that really what you want to talk about? Saggy, wrinkling skin?
( Karlach's nose wrinkles when he puts it like that, a counterpoint to his gaze as he lets it linger over her naked body, though she can't help but grin. Astarion should have known what he was getting into, agreeing to come with her. If he found her jokes insulting he shouldn't have pressed so hard to come with her into the Hells.
She could play hard to get. Give him a taste of his own teasing. But she doesn't want to do that, not with him -- never with him. Why would she, when he's in arm's reach?
Karlach grins, slipping into the water with a relieved sigh, the warmth easing muscles tense from the amount of devils and demons they had to slaughter to get here to begin with. Not that she or Astarion are mad about that: it was one of the plusses he listed off to her. )
And here I was, thinking I tired you out last night. ( She knows that's not true. ) So yes, tell me more about your mortal skin, Astarion.
[ His eyes drag over her as she moves and settles into the water, enjoying the sight of all her bare skin and handsome features. She remains a wonder, even now, something that he delights in reaching out for, wanting to touch, and the fact that he is allowed to is still startling. There's no demand, no pressure one way or the other, and knowing that it is his choice...
That is a kind of freedom he had never dared to dream of, not even in the Hells themselves. ]
You know I need less sleep than the rest of you. You can try and tire me as much as you like, I'll always keep up.
[ As soon as Karlach is in the water Astarion is swimming closer, shifting to let their arms press against one another as he hums softly. ]mortal.
( The touch, the closeness to Astarion -- not physically, but emotionally -- is enough for Karlach to burn cool blue out of sheer affection. She's never going to tire of Astarion, she's never going to get over the sense of awe she feels at the fact he wants her, that he's comfortable enough with her to let her in past his walls. Gods, he really is something else; wicked as the Hells and twice as sharp, but he deserves so much more than what she can give him. This life in the Hells, for whatever it's worth, even if it means he doesn't have to worry about the sun or the fact he gets to have the time of his life killing.
She lets her head fall against his, breathing in the scent of his hair -- fresh against the horrors of the Hells. )
[ One hand lifts gently, stroking along the shape of her jaw, the curve of her face, his fingers sliding up to curl through her hair as he draws her in for a long, slow kiss. There's more tenderness to it than there would be with anyone else - than there has been with anyone else - and he nips at her mouth gently, humming as he sinks into the bath. ]
And I love you. Are you going to sit there staring at me, or do something, darling?
( She wants to chase after him, but she figures that's part of his game -- even though he makes it all too easy to want to grab his hips and pull him closer. But Karlach is ever careful, ever kind, and she does not once take for granted Astarion's love for her, his acceptance. The least she can do is return it in kind -- catching his hand to press an openmouthed kiss against the skin of his inner wrist, her breath hot against the coolness of his skin. )
[ It is devilish of him, but he thinks that is rather appropriate, given their location. He is a touch startled by the brush of his hand, the stroke of his fingers, and his eyes widen briefly before he relaxes, his own touch curling around her own.
Her hands are warm, calloused from her weapons, but nice. Beautiful. ]
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Coming back to the House of Hope as someone to languish there as a guest rather than as a desperate attempt to steal items under the gaze of a devil isn't what he had anticipated, but he had never thought that he would be so desperate to spend his days with Karlach, either. When the two of them had first met he had imagined her to be a dutiful protector, someone that he could use and manipulate to keep himself safe, but... It wasn't long until he realised it wasn't necessary for him to manipulate her at all.
She would protect him because she is, at heart, a good and wonderful person. It had been so painful for him to begin with, knowing she had been there in Baldur's Gate and would have, if she had known, tried to save him long before they had met, but he has forced himself to push those kinds of thoughts away. All it will do is make him sad and sour, and when he has finally found a place of happiness, finally found somewhere to belong... He does not want to ruin it with his own self-deprecating.
They're comfortable here, the two of them together, and he doesn't have to overthink the reasons why. He and Karlach have sworn to make the most of the life that she has, and the fact that she had agreed to this despite her fears means more to him than he could ever express. The idea of losing her when he had just found her was impossible to imagine, and until they can find a way to repair her heart for good, he will spend as long as it takes in the Hells themselves if it means he can stay with her.
It's not difficult to hear her approach, lacking stealth as she does without a reason to try, and he lifts his head from where he is lounging, content and pleased. Taking over the rooms of a rather indulgent devil does have enough perks for someone like Astarion who has often enjoyed the taste of the finer things in life, and his expression warms as he sees Karlach. He could be a little more verbose about his affection for her, but he thinks she knows.
He's here, is he not? He has his freedom, for whatever it is worth, and he has chosen to spend it with her. ]
My skin still acts like mortal skin, so yes. I will get more wrinkly than I already am, you can keep the jokes to yourself.
[ His eyes drag over her body as it's bared, and his lips curl a little. ]
Is that really what you want to talk about? Saggy, wrinkling skin?
no subject
She could play hard to get. Give him a taste of his own teasing. But she doesn't want to do that, not with him -- never with him. Why would she, when he's in arm's reach?
Karlach grins, slipping into the water with a relieved sigh, the warmth easing muscles tense from the amount of devils and demons they had to slaughter to get here to begin with. Not that she or Astarion are mad about that: it was one of the plusses he listed off to her. )
And here I was, thinking I tired you out last night. ( She knows that's not true. ) So yes, tell me more about your mortal skin, Astarion.
no subject
That is a kind of freedom he had never dared to dream of, not even in the Hells themselves. ]
You know I need less sleep than the rest of you. You can try and tire me as much as you like, I'll always keep up.
[ As soon as Karlach is in the water Astarion is swimming closer, shifting to let their arms press against one another as he hums softly. ]mortal.
no subject
She lets her head fall against his, breathing in the scent of his hair -- fresh against the horrors of the Hells. )
Gods, I love you.
no subject
[ One hand lifts gently, stroking along the shape of her jaw, the curve of her face, his fingers sliding up to curl through her hair as he draws her in for a long, slow kiss. There's more tenderness to it than there would be with anyone else - than there has been with anyone else - and he nips at her mouth gently, humming as he sinks into the bath. ]
And I love you. Are you going to sit there staring at me, or do something, darling?
no subject
I'd be happy just looking at you all day.
no subject
Her hands are warm, calloused from her weapons, but nice. Beautiful. ]
Flattery will get you everywhere.