In his origin Petras even calls him a piece of shit and the worst of them all.
Petras reminds me of a guy who works at McDonald's and his main goal in life is to get in the "employee of the month" frame. (in no way mean to offend McDonald's employees, it's just a comparison!). And anyone who doesn't strive to be the "best employee" is to him "a piece of shit and the worst of them all". Petras' opinion can only excite someone who also aspires to be "the best worker at Cazadore's McDonald's".
Originally Posted by Ametris
If Shadowheart is present he also admits he was hoping Tav was into kinky stuff. But then when he has banter with Lae'zel he says not to group him up with the likes of Tav, lol.
I had Shadowheart, and their dialog with Astarion in the background was a bit creepy. Interestingly, Shadowheart gives two endorsements (more endorsements at the end if Tav passes the test with flying colors), but Astarion only approves of you agreeing to stand up to the priest's blows, it's like he doesn't care how "cool" you are in the test. True, back then, the relationship with Tav was just beginning and Astarion didn't have any special feelings for her yet. Perhaps he also wanted to make you feel what he had felt before, to "be in his shoes".
Originally Posted by Ametris
That insight check also gave me chills. Honestly, I don't even know how many times in my playthrough I was affectionately swearing at the screen calling him an effing bastard when he had that smug face and knew precisely how to make my Tav go along with his ideas. And then the game called me out.
I wanted to explain myself to him, to prove him wrong after this test. But perhaps there's no point, Astarion won't believe anything anyway. In my opinion, Astarion's egoism also lies in the fact that he is extremely fixated on himself, he does not even try to analyze the feelings of his beloved, to try to find out what she thinks. He has his own "impenetrable" opinion.
Originally Posted by Ametris
Spawn Astarion seems verbally and sexually repressed in comparison. Is he ashamed of himself when he's with Tav?
Yeah, it sounds like it. And it's just impossible to bear. And if you compare the "sexiness" of the two scenes, but fans of the unascended Astarion Larian have been pretty much deprived.
Originally Posted by Ametris
It's also worth noting that AA's body language changes too after ascending. He doesn't gesticulate with his whole body like before, doesn't resort to theatrics and emphatic bending (unless he's mocking his old self and is very angry during the breakup). Instead he's moving his head and hands more, while standing still and straight. He exudes an aura of confidence.
Good point!
Originally Posted by Anska
I have seen a lot of comments say that Ascended Astarion treats Tav like a precious belonging or a pet. While I get were the notion comes from, I wonder if I completely agree. For me he has a certain vision of the image he wants to create of himself, both for himself and for others, one that is more hedonistic than the one Cazador maintained. So being strick and crudely cruel, wouldn't fit that image. Astarion's strategy seems to be to gather blackmail material about his "friends" so he can use them when needed and to keep Tav placated by giving them presents and the illusion of having a say. They really haven't, they are his spawn, even though he prefers to call it consort because that sounds more regal. He seems to have a vision of the perfect relationship in which Tav is given a part to play and he goes through some length to ensure that vision holds. If Tav thinks all of this is very romantic, it works well, if they don't, it probably doesn't.
I think these comments are simply based on a "literal" understanding of the lines. While saying those lines, Astarion is acting, "showing off" to Tav, he is clearly enjoying her attention. And the warm smiles at the end.
Gathering information about his friends is logical, Astarion doesn't trust them, and it's really worth knowing what's on their minds and if they're dangerous. As long as there was a common goal - they were "friends", but who knows what will come into their minds later. For example, Jaheira says she's "going to be a very annoying neighbor to him." That's the right decision, if I were Tav I would have suggested it myself, even without initiative from Astarion. I know exactly how these "friends" would have behaved if Astarion hadn't ascended and suffered at the end of the game. After watching the scene at the docks, it's very difficult for me to regain my former attitude towards them, and even though I "behave decently" in the game and fulfill their quests as best I can for them, to me they are still more like "random fellow travelers" bound by a common goal and a common problem, rather than "friends". If they believe the diplomatic Tav and think otherwise, so much the better, the easier it will be to "keep an eye on them". After all, let them not create a "necessary occasion" in which "blackmail materials" will have to be used. And how much of Astarion's attitude is considered romantic - does it matter that much? Astarion enjoys it, I admire it and enjoy it too, that's what romance is. There's no need to appease Tav, she's perfectly calm as it is "The Right to Vote" may indeed be needed at some points in the future, especially if Astarion wants to show his penchant for risk and get involved in something questionable, but I have absolutely no faith in those who say "Astarion will never respect you". Astarion is too smart to ignore the reasoned opinion of the closest person they've been through so much together.
Originally Posted by Zayir
Playing a good character was like: Astarion disapproves – reload – Astarion disapproves – reaload – Astarion … oh, approves!
Oh yeah, Astarion's approval is the most "hard to get" in the game. The others are gained by themselves, without any effort, but with Astarion I got a "beautiful 100" only by the end of the second/beginning of the third chapter. Now I run past beggars, afraid to enter into a dialog - and refuse them ashamed, and "100" do not want to spoil, Astarion never approved of such spending .
