I really really wish people would quit the whole bad vs good BS narrative. He is morally grey. Either way, he chooses, Ascended or Not. He is a complete whole person and he has a personality that is unique to him. No ritual will change that. He is not a TRUE VAMPIRE, he is the Vampire Ascendant. He has elvish feelings just like before the ritual. He has all the urges of any male elf, whichever path he chooses. This debate needs to stop because all of that is still in that one elf's body. Regardless of what one side thinks or not. Period. No one gets over trauma in a day, I do not care what anyone thinks about that. It is a lifetime of working on it. Even Larian stated that Ascended Astarion is still Astarion. He is not like a true vampire. He is the one and ONLY Vampire Ascendant. (This does not EXIST in DnD, nor in their books, nor in their lore, nor anywhere!!!!!! GET OVER IT!!!!)
Those of us who Ascended Him are ACTUALLY IN LOVE WITH HIM just as much as those who did not. There is no difference. Relationships are hard and take work, especially with people who have an ego the size of our beautiful elf. He does not like everyone to know about his business. He is secretive with everyone except Tav because he never had someone to confide in, EVER. He was an elf teenager when he died, so he needs time to grow up. That takes a while as well. Plus he is also mischievous, so that is also something that a lot of people do not understand a lot of the time.
Beautifully done with that amazing card Nyloth. Anyways, at least Larian gave us a mostly better romance with a vampire and quit trying to turn it into a damn Twilight type of fest. I wanted a Dracula, Lestat, Eric Northman, Straud type of romance. Worthy of DnD and worthy of a vampire. And worthy of an 18+ game. Now if they can top it, I will be happier. And I want to be able to run after him if he is not ascended. Screw Karlach. He is my chosen. Not her. But for the love of the GODS, stop with this bad vs good BS...................PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a whole entire flushed-out elf and story to boot.
If you're talking about Strahd, that's a bad example, I personally wouldn't want to see something similar. All because Strahd's relationships are more built on unrequited love, and I'm tired of this hackneyed cliché that if a character is evil, it's impossible to love him. However, I like Lestat's dynamic because despite all his selfishness and hysterical behavior he was able to show feelings for both vampires and mortals. And really bonded with them.
