I have meant every word, little one. [And though he reaches for Astarion, the vampire twists himself away from outstretched claws the second they approach; utterly venomous for how he glowers whilst hunting down thin silk to tug loosely about his arms and shoulders, blouse lacework hanging raggedly unstrung— all of him out of reach.
None of it a shock in any sense (and yet all the same, Vakares does still feel a flicker of something low and mourning at the sight).]
It's the only way. And if you would put down that ire, I know you'd see it, too.
[Astarion scoffs before he finishes. 'The only way? Making a disgraced mockery of your dominion instead of just for once choosing a single heir like everyone has always done is 'the only way?'
Barefoot, tugging at the waistband of torn trousers, the truth slips out in his expression: do you really think so little of me? Soft and painfully left to twist in open air— before his eyes narrow into viperish slits underneath a set of pinched-up brows.
'Go step into the sun.'
And like that, Astarion is gone.
Oh, not forever— (even Vakares knows he'll storm on his own for a handful of hours spent prowling crowded hallways, but) once it ebbs into a half-spent fizzle of stubborn resentment, mapped out by his tender pride— inevitably he'll return before night's end. And whether it's to reluctantly agree or only silently obey, the outlay is that Astarion will accede. Sooner rather than later, even for a thing this cataclysmic.
In the meanwhile, until Vakares finds himself called to the formal stage of his own announcement, that leaves but the two of them here, laid out as they have been.
Careful in sparing an earnest sidelong glance— not wanting to drive the other fragment of his heart away so soon; resigned to the possibility that it might happen anyway.]
2/2 more forever free permission to timeskip or just burrow into us threading the boys talkin :>
None of it a shock in any sense (and yet all the same, Vakares does still feel a flicker of something low and mourning at the sight).]
It's the only way. And if you would put down that ire, I know you'd see it, too.
[Astarion scoffs before he finishes. 'The only way? Making a disgraced mockery of your dominion instead of just for once choosing a single heir like everyone has always done is 'the only way?'
Barefoot, tugging at the waistband of torn trousers, the truth slips out in his expression: do you really think so little of me? Soft and painfully left to twist in open air— before his eyes narrow into viperish slits underneath a set of pinched-up brows.
'Go step into the sun.'
And like that, Astarion is gone.
Oh, not forever— (even Vakares knows he'll storm on his own for a handful of hours spent prowling crowded hallways, but) once it ebbs into a half-spent fizzle of stubborn resentment, mapped out by his tender pride— inevitably he'll return before night's end. And whether it's to reluctantly agree or only silently obey, the outlay is that Astarion will accede. Sooner rather than later, even for a thing this cataclysmic.
In the meanwhile, until Vakares finds himself called to the formal stage of his own announcement, that leaves but the two of them here, laid out as they have been.
Careful in sparing an earnest sidelong glance— not wanting to drive the other fragment of his heart away so soon; resigned to the possibility that it might happen anyway.]
Would you prefer to follow him?