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The abrupt and unjustified introduction of fanfiction themes that skew the character's history is a clear mistake, an inconsistent development in terms of storytelling plot.


Player: A beloved slave is still a slave.
Astarion: Oh don't be like that, I'd never want to control you.


Player: After everything you went through with Cazador, you're going to make me a spawn?
Astarion: Oh that was completely different, I'd never hurt you.

You need not fear anything.

I suppose they could have written in the devnotes that it was all a lie so the kisses would make sense. After all, in the case of the lie that he was going to make Tav a true vampire in the future, they didn't fail to emphasize the fact of the lie itself. Although I never realized why he didn't lie about going to transform Tav into an actual vampire? And actually turn Tav into a spawn. Tav would have found out too late anyway. It would have been so villainous, Cazador style. But AA isn't him.

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This novel was completely consensual.

Player: I hoped you'd learn to love me.
Astarion: Who's to say I don't? I'm willing to share all of this with you. What's that if not love? Of course if that's not enough - if you need something more - perhaps this isn't for you?

I think he's asking a great question, “perhaps this isn't for you?”. So Tav, who is disinclined to agree to terms, should really think twice. “So. What's it to be, darling? Is this it?” He himself offers to break up if Tav gets confrontational.

He will always see you as degrading yourself if you continue to be with him. But perhaps you wish to degrade yourself. And he knows it.

The game hints rather obtrusively that you have a choice and you can disagree and walk away. And that you should stay only if you wish to stay.

We could be together for eternity, ruling this world side by side. We could have it all.

In fact, judging from the finale, he keeps all his promises to the player, his only stipulation being “together forever”. In his understanding, he offers truly generous gifts, such as eternity and power, and in the end even shares with Tav the talents given by Mephistopheles, such as protection from the sun. According to Velioth's rules, which Cazador also followed, sharing with someone is weakness. But AA does this as soon as it gains power. Which is a serious deviation from the principles of Cazadore.