His new kiss for example is incredibly performative. I always employ it after fights, when everyone is covered in blood.
Yeah, awesome! I have a funny thing going on though - my Tav is a warrior-champion, and she has a constitution like Carlach (I liked that the game has the option to make a female warrior look like someone who can wear heavy armor), the developers made a height difference between the different body types - and Astarion suddenly "became" small in height when kissing. It's adorable, especially after he calls you "my little love" himself.
Originally Posted by Anska
And for me the morning conversation (I was referring to the one after the graveyard, not the one after the brain) wasn't sweet at all, it was sincere. He isn't "happy" but he feels that he made the right decision, that is neither surprising nor sad for me. It's expected. He gets to / has to decide who he wants to be after all. That is serious business. He is allowed to be serious, sincere and none-performative for a bit. Depending on what you choose during the Post-Brain-Dialogue, he is already more confident then. During the six month until the epilogue and he has time to find himself and he is more honestly happy then.
I'll have to watch that epilogue, maybe at least something good, unlike that scene at the docks... If it was possible to convince Astarion during the ritual to just stop, take a breath, cool down a bit and calmly, consciously make a decision, promising that you will support any choice he makes (Cazador is not going anywhere, a boot on his throat and that's it, he'll wait a bit), and he would make a decision on his own, completely on his own, without "pressure on his conscience" from Tav, moving away from the thirst for power and security that seized him - then it would be possible to understand exactly what he wants to be in the end. As it is - Tav still influences his decision, one way or another.For me, the "main quest" of the whole game was to make Astarion happy. It doesn't matter how he communicates with me, with others - what matters is how he feels inside.It's hard, you can't "get inside Astarion's head" and see if he's okay. Ascension gives him safety and strength, and it frees me from the desire to "kill everyone around me" because of him, I can't bear the "scene at the docks" just physically, nor can I bear that he won't be able to enjoy life and sunshine. I felt much "angrier" inside of me when I was walking around with an unascended Astarion, I really hated the world around me, I wanted to make it bad for all of them, not just Astarion. And now I've calmed down, I'm enjoying walks around sunny Baldur with the Ascended, I'm doing mostly good deeds, with some minor exceptions, but now I really want to save this city instead of "let it all burn with fire".Yes, it all depends on priorities....
Originally Posted by Anska
Otoh, Ascended Astarion knows who he is, he is the person who Cazador made him to be. Everything he is, he is because of Cazador, because of Velioth and the whole line before them. Killing their former master and taking over from them seems to be how vampire-inheritance works. There is no room or necessity for doubt but there is no freedom in it either. It's bowing one's head to fate, submitting to destiny. For me, that is sad.
I can't agree, the Ascension Astarion defeated fate (fate was preparing a much worse outcome for him), he destroyed Cazador, snatched the Ascension from him, and everything Astarion has, he got thanks to his own power, and not thanks to Cazador and Veliot. Cazador became an "ingredient", a worm that Astarion didn't just crush, but also used. It's only in the Ascension scene that Cazador gets what he deserves! I love the moment when Astarion slices the scars on him, I love the way Cazador yells at the ritual, I wonder what he was thinking at the last moment of his vile life?And just stabbing the bastard and Astarion crying afterwards... Besides, Astarion will never be like Kasador and Veliot, he won't torture someone and torment them the way they did. Don't take his words about grabbing everything literally, he enjoys power, he's not used to it yet (he likes to "show off" too). He will get used to it and calm down in time, besides, I think that Ascended Astarion together with Tav, who sincerely loves him and cares about him, will feel better and may be a little less aggressive than "lonely" Ascended Astarion.
I have a funny thing going on though - my Tav is a warrior-champion, and she has a constitution like Carlach (I liked that the game has the option to make a female warrior look like someone who can wear heavy armor), the developers made a height difference between the different body types - and Astarion suddenly "became" small in height when kissing. 
