I've long thought for Astarion's story to be coherent there needs to be a Definitive Edition. But this proposal is too ambitious and considering what Tav we got I'm already dreading the prospect of patches.
I had an idea on how to make this building stand. With a dominant Astarion and an neat and romantic Astarion, and the whole thing doesn't open up or connect in any way. At the release I found EA reviews I read speculating what a romance with Astarion might look like: He turns Tav into Spawn. He turns Tav into a True Vampire. He possibly becomes mortal and returns to Magistrate life with Tav. Some options are impossible.
But the dynamics of the relationship can change, depending on how the player plays the game. Essentially, we have several ways to play with Lord Astarion: - Power Couple where he is the leader and the commander (it's like Druge or wild Tav) is what in my opinion was before patch 6. Tav has daring answers. - Power Couple (submission to the absolute) where Lord Astarion is also in the lead, perhaps, not clear, maybe odd numbers of the calendar. - Dynamics d\s - what I assumed was not revealed in game before the ritual. (this is what showed incredibly crude, clumsy and just plain awful on many levels in patch 6)
It's really Lovitar in Act 3, a big, huge temple. Or at least something.
We go in and realize what kinds of things Astarion likes or doesn't like. We accept them and tell Astarion – ok, get 5 approvals. So the player discovers the D\S dynamic, it opens up and then these kisses are understood, revealed and all is well. Maybe after the ritual, the spawn of Astarion will behave more dominant if such a quest were to occur.
However, if Tav don't say - ok, Astarion doesn't approve or nothing. But since he saw the temple of Lovitar - Trigger happened, becoming Lord and very sure he will make just the attempt. It's time to dominate Tav.
However, if Tav was saying "no" at the temple of Lovitar. Lord Astarion might make the attempt, but he would be easier to convince - no. If dice fail "yes or no". If Tav told Astarion "yes" at Lovitar Temple - conviction will not be available.
Though of course this scene...Yes, no, yes, no, ok, bye then. So far, the only person who's cared about in 200 years because didn't kneel, even though Tav agreed to be a spawn. And now after patch 6, any interpretation of kneeling as a single time of complete trust, loyalty and obedience (if Tav doesn't ask for it more), unrelated to sexuality (?) any thoughts are simply erased.
The kind of kiss Lord has now isn't even after the bed scene. Right after the ritual is mindless fanservice based on memes. Just to see the animation of the knees. Should I even think about it?
