I’ve been lurking on this thread for some days now and just wanted to give my two cents. I hope I’m not coming off as attacking anyone‘s narrative, I just want to express my thoughts. There are currently two threads both discussing Astarions romance I hope it’s okay if I post it on both as it has to do with both threads.

Just some background, not particularly pertaining to this thread but i thought I might as well just add it here

I tend to agree on the bride theory, or at least something similar like a special bond between AA and his partner, there are clues that support it in the game already. I don’t think it was intentionally made to fit the bride theory that was discussed earlier from the book from the 90s, but I can see how it could fit that as well. I think the way it is now is done very tastefully that the player has enough clues to be able to HC the full bride / groom ritual. On the other hand, I think it’s also enough to just see it as AA turning his partner into a normal spawn. I think it fits both HCs. In the end in the tavern scene, the player has the options also to play out both HCs. You either are fully with AA and support him as his bride / groom, or have the option to attempt a break up where he reveals that you can’t which would support a normal spawn path (whether he is lying or not doesn’t matter since we only know what he tells us). Since you can only choose one option / path (bride or spawn) it doesn’t matter that the other exists, you just don’t choose it and roleplay the way that fits your narrative. If you think his partner is a bride / groom, choose the supportive option, if you think his partner is a spawn, choose break up option (or don’t, of course, you can still be supportive as a spawn as well). Similarly with the epilogue. Choose the options that fit your narrative. It’s clear that AA is annoyed when his partner asks for freedom in the epilogue, but a bride / groom wouldn’t ask, so just don’t choose the option. Since you only get to choose one (I think) of the options in that dialogue tree, it makes more sense to choose something that would fit your narrative instead of „wasting“ that choice on something you don’t even believe. I think it’s done very well to accommodate All HCs for his romance.

So personally I think AA romance should remain just the way it is now and nothing should change. The only thing I do agree on though, is that there should also be a choice how his partner reacts to the kisses, just to round out the HC options. To be clear, I don’t mean they should change the kiss animations! The kisses are great, awesome, even. I love them very much. I mean only the facial expressions on his partner. Of course, if you HC a bride or groom, they should smile. And if you HC a spawn partner they could also smile, but could also not smile. Myself, I think a bride or groom can also NOT smile, but I doubt that is something anyone would actually HC, I’m just saying both facial expressions could be used for various HCs. Plus, I think with this option that would let you choose the facial expressions for his partner, it would actually even help with the roleplay and kind of…support(?) or make the feeling of the kisses stronger(?). What I mean is: so AA kisses his partner and after that first kiss after being turned into a vampire, his partner can either express even more support for the relationship or be a little taken aback by the kiss and uncomfortable. Honestly I think expressing the want and desire for the kisses that AA offers is something good and encouraging for him to continue since his partner likes it. On the other hand, when his partner is uncomfortable, they still ask for the kiss themselves so there is no „no consent“ notion in this at all. All of it is always consensual of course. I just think it adds a lot more roleplay aspects and I think that is the most important part.

What I want to say with this in general, I don’t think any changes should be made to AA‘s romance except for maybe the facial expressions. I think it’s already incredibly in-depth and offers the most options for HC out of all companions.

As for UA, I agree with other comments that there should be more added, only to even it out. Not make MORE for UA, just even. one more kiss at least. I don’t know how possibly they could implement running after UA on the docks. There is no way to push him running away off, because with the tadpole gone there is only so much time he has until the effects wear off. At the latest it should wear off at the same time as Karlach begins to burn up and then you’d have to choose between running after him and helping her, which is not nice. Personally I think it’s okay that his partner doesnt run after him, I think he’d also understand that Karlach dying is probably a more dire matter in that moment. As friends in the epilogue he says he felt ashamed to be seen like that and he didn’t even seek out his friend. The first time they meet after that is the party. so maybe it’s okay to let him have a moment to himself. I’m sure his partner finds him as soon as they can.