@Veranis I'm arguing against the idea that there's a fetishistic intent behind the animations. It's nitpicky since it actually isn't really relevant to the discussion, I'll admit, but rumours start that way and I don't like that kind of stuff being spread. Also, yes. There are people asking for changes to Astarion or claiming he's OOC in this very thread, and I've seen a few people very vehemently express this idea online as well.
Evidently, the epilogue would remain the same, as I said it's not about the kisses, so we agree on that. (Although, Tav very much has the potential to express that they're miserable, and I don't think it'd have to be the far away future for Astarion to display those tendencies, considering he refuses to let you go in the ending if you ask to break up and that's what, a week after the ritual?.)
My caveats are about a couple of ideas that have popped up while arguing why Tav shouldn't look upset which I don't think hold a lot of water for this specific scenario when applied to the long run (not right now, per se, just as general ideas as to why they shouldn't be upset). I'm not super serious about it though since I assume people aren't conveying all the nuances of what they want to say there, but one sentiment I see a lot is "why would my Tav be displeased? They're super evil" when evil people can very much still be abused (for this one, I assume they might be talking about something else when they say this, IDK). Now, if they're into all that's been presented so far that's another story (Another somewhat unrelated argument I've seen is "you can picture it as abusive if you pick those options, but I pick the right ones so it's a healthy relationship!" which is flawed because if you need to constantly please someone and be under their thumb so they don't lash out that's still abusive, and realistically eventually Tav's going to slip up or Astarion is going to grow harder to please) My other caveat is the idea that the upset faces are nonsensical because "Why would Tav just take it and kneel if they're upset? They can still break up!" Granted, being able to break up makes for a big difference than after he gains the ability to compel you, but in real life plenty of people stay and withstand abusive situations even when they can leave. Emotional manipulation (and the love you can have for someone) can have a bigger hold on you than you'd expect, even when having the means to escape that situation. Leaving an abusive relationship isn't that easy, so I find someone staying and obeying throughout abusive displays to be very doable, and in fact true to life.
