Astarion took Tave to his home. A home reclaimed and already undergoing remodelling. For the druid, decor aside, everything about this evening felt far too familiar. Instead of a campfire, they sat together before a roaring hearth beneath a gold-laced marble mantle. Astarion’s quick bite after his ascension earlier involved clearing out the palace. There wasn’t a trace of Cazador left, outside of the grandeur of it’s design, of course. All the portraits were gone, as were the contents of the wardrobes, trunks, and cabinets. Where he’d put them so quickly, Tav had no idea. The rest of the finery remained, and Astarion even took Cazador’s old master bedroom as his. When Tav asked him about this, he cackled and said if there was an afterlife for slain vampires, he wanted Cazador to seethe at the fact that Astarion had taken everything that was his. His palace, his power, his position in Baldur’s Gate High Society, and even his bed. He replaced the bedding, of course, and wore a sadistic smirk when he offered some of the expensive wines Cazador used to keep for himself to Tav. In fact, the first bottle he opened, he turned the bottle upside down to pour it on the floor. Just because he could. Tav was about to ask him why he did that when Astarion giggled and answered her confused gaze. 

“Because I fucking can, darling. Thanks to you.’ He then proceeded to open another bottle and poured them both a drink. Tav was more than a little creeped out by the fact that Astarion wanted to live in the same palace that held 200 years worth of traumatic memories for him, but the pale elf simply laughed like she’d said something cute. 

“It’s a reminder of how far I’ve come and everything I have taken from Cazador.” He told her and then shepherded her to what was once Cazador’s personal study. A thick blanket was placed before the fireplace, and he encouraged her to relax with any book she wanted from the book shelves surrounding them. He sat on the blanket with one knee raised and the hand holding a book braced across it. He pretended to read a book on criminal legislations at public court he knew inside out, as she tentatively lowered to lay beside him. To literally curl up with a good book. Good. I thought she’d never relax. Poor dear. I can’t have my sweet puppy so tired; her tail is tucked between her legs when we face the absolute. Or our companions, when the time comes for me to rule this city. He glanced at the book and was amused at her choice of book. She had chosen one based on local myths and legends, which entertained Astarion as he knew that book had a chapter about vampires. She never got that far, of course. Tav lasted five pages before her head slumped to one side and she drifted off to sleep. Astarion waited until her breathing told him she wasn’t in a trance, but truly asleep, before he openly smirked down at her. 

Oh my dear? You’re so trusting. So easy to manipulate. His mind thought of his plans beyond the absolute. She stood by him as he ascended. If their companions got their way, they’d destroy the absolute and all the power that could be taken by controlling the cult for themselves. But we can’t have that, can we, my sweet? His smirk grew, and he carefully placed his book on the blanket beside him. He lowered his left hand to bear his weight on the other side of Tav, and with his right, he carefully moved her long ginger locks from her face. It wouldn’t do to let such power go to waste. Imagine what we could do with loyal servants in every tier of society. He moved more of her hair from her face and frowned at how sunken her eyes looked. How pale her complexion was. The bruises on her neck. Fools who are not capable of tending to the needs of their prize race horse don’t deserve to have ahold of the reins. He brought his right hand away from her face and inhaled his fingers, smelling her scent deeply with his heightened senses. It will soon be time to shove those morons off the saddle and do nothing as they are trampled below. The moment we have the netherstones, we’re done with them, my dear. He winked down at Tav’s softly sleeping form. Her expression was so peaceful and oblivious to the scheming of her ex-lover. All I need to do between now and then is to put distance and doubt between you and the others. Not enough so that they are no longer allies against the morons clinging to the netherstones, but just enough so that you won’t hesitate to cut them loose when it’s time for us to take all that power for ourselves. He leaned closer to her and smirked over his pearly fangs. Since his ascension, being so close to her neck no longer taunted him with incessant hunger. Yet? The pleasure of doing so was even more intoxicating than ever. He wasn’t a slave to his sanguine hunger. When he chose to bite someone, it was a choice, and an orgasmic one at that. What would feeding on you be like now? Tav was the first ever thinking creature he’d fed upon, aside from Kobolds, which, in his opinion, don’t really count. Since the first night Tav welcomed his bite, he’s fed openly during combat. Men and women who would have died on his blade anyway. With Tav’s blessing. 

Yet none tasted as sweet on his tongue as Tav’s blood does. Blood that she gave him willingly, and continued to do so even after he no longer needed to seduce her. He thought about having a little nibble, and knew she wouldn’t mind…but his red eyes flicked to her weak pallor, and he decided against it. She needs her blood to recover. I have all the time in the world now that I’ve ascended. I can wait until my pet has the spring back in her step, before I put my fangs in her neck. He smirked at his own joke, and allowed his mind to wander once more about the wondrous future awaiting him. Not just the immediate concern of the absolute, but the future of the city that will become the seat of his unstoppable power. I’ll need to fill my palace with servants. Enthralled into secrecy and obedience, of course. I’ll need to resume duties as a magistrate and ensure all of Cazador’s deeds are transferred into my name. I’ll make a list of rules for how to care for my little treasure. He used his superior dexterity to position himself to lie beside Tav. His head was propped up on his right hand so he could watch her sleep. I must ensure you are happy to be my prized pooch when all is said and done. The city will want to adore you, and our enemies will wish to end you. You will gladly continue to give me your delicious blood and even sweeter trust. My palace will become the fortress you never want to leave. Unless on my arm for social events, of course. 

Oh yes. Astarion had grand plans for Tav far beyond defeating the absolute. He intended to be so cunning about it that Tav never saw his total possession of her coming. Not until the druid was already established as his precious lap dog, and it was too late to resist her destiny. Their destiny. Astarion as the new absolute, and Tav as his…well. As his, in every way.