Ascended Astarion Doesn't Care About Love | Rare Dialogue

'You're not worthy, I'd have RUINED your love, you'll REGRET LEAVING ME...' Five seconds later 'Um so can we still be evil collegues ... that like, kiss when an evil plan goes off perfectly....?'

The fact that there’s the option to say “I want you, I want your body” and he responds positively is so icky, it’s how you know he is really no longer himself, especially when only recently (in Shadowcursed lands) he admitted that he wanted someone for once to want him for something other than his body. He wanted to wait to get into bed with you again because he wanted you to want him for him, and not for what he could do for you.

“you came so far—only to slip now” that line just fucks with me hard. it’s like AA believes you’re the one who needed healing, you’re the one HE was fixing. he truly believes that HE is the savior in your story, just like cazador believes he was the savior in astarion’s story.

When he talks about how we will regret keeping him, he looks as if he already regrets it, more than anything else in the world. Considering his psychotype, I admit that this is actually the case.

The 'I can't resist playing the hand I know' line is so sad, because that's a big part of the reason he didn't want to have physical relations for so long. He was scared he could not stop seeing the person he cares for as just another victim. Seems like after the ascensions his mindset switches to 'but that's exactly what you are'. The disapproval when you tell him you just wanted him to feel safe is rough, especially when you know from the Nymph that this is his greatest desire 💀

And people STILL defend this guy 😭 when I catch you AA 🤺

The fact that Tav saying "I wanted you to feel safe" gives DISAPPROVAL at this point omg. Also the language he uses, calling you a pet like you're some kind of dog, AND the fact he literally tells you he could turn you against your will... Probably the most creepy thing in this game tbh. I wish there was a way to stay with him without having to become his spawn. I know you kinda can if you go straight to the brain after Cazador without long resting, but it's kinda an exploit. The only time I ascended him, I was playing as evil Dark Urge and I was really ready to lean into the toxic power couple but she would've NEVER given him a total control of herself (as spawn) and all that came with her position (I finished the Dark Urge quest before going to Cazador).

This version of Astarion is the absolute worst, but the way he says "LAAUHVE" at 3:42 sent me 😂

Argh this video is a little late for me since I thought there was a possibility he loved the player and so I mentioned it in a video essay, but now I'm not so sure. But thank you for sharing these clips. They really help form a comprehensive idea about the character. (Edit: grammar)

I think it does show some of the original Astarion is still in there given he doesn't try to make you a spawn. His enslavement broke him and he can't bring himself to do the same thing to someone he does still care about, even if he's pissed off and now morally disagrees with you.

With AA like this, I really don’t get the people that see this as a happy ending for him. I feel like there must be a media literacy issue there. You can call it a satisfying ending for a tragic character, but that’s pretty much it. It is not a happy ending. If you listened to Astarion at all, especially in the second act, this is not what he wanted. He might have wanted power, but only not to be abused anymore and to be free of cazador. What he also wanted was a healthy relationship with someone, not even necessarily romantic. Just someone who actually cared about him and wants to stay with him just for him. He will never have this now.

So everything he says is a lie, except when he says this. Yay!

Astarion has the best dialogues

Huh... The way Astarion gets past you is by telling himself that being beholden to you would be like being enslaved. Even though he thinks it's ridiculous that you'd feel that way the other way round before the break up. I'm not an AA girl, but I definitely believe he cares about Tav/Durge, no matter what baggage he's taking into ascension that colours his view of the dynamic. Heard something recently that some people see obedience as love. The other side of that is that control is love; on the insight check during ascension he genuinely believes Tav wants to be degraded. Imo he's giving Tav what they want... In my Tav's case it's a bit incorrect, lol, but that's to do with my own baggage tbh. Some Tavs/Durges/people are comfortable with their own power and totally happy to have that dynamic! I can see why other people would think it's unhealthy, but it definitely doesn't have to be imo.