So many options in this conversation are technically better than the hug imo, but since this is the only time you can hug him it's very tempting to just go with that (because the man needs all the hugs the world can offer). But I do think he seems to appreciate a less physical approach, especially in this conversation.
Imo he appreciates the hug *because* its physical contact done from affection, not sexual. Ideally we'd have the option to ask him for consent, but I think Astarion is a certain version of touched starved in that he isn't used to physical contact without sexual meaning, or violence/control.
Personally I really wish we could pick all of the supportive dialogues, or at least one of them, and still be able to hug him afterwards. As the reply above me already states, the hug is also a great option because it can show him that physical intimacy is not exclusively sexual, but that it can also be a means of communicating trust and safety. It is rather forceful though, so it would've been nice to be able to ask him first, and/or for the player character to approach him more slowly. But overall outright telling him that he means a lot to you, and that you can be together without sex for as long as he needs, is _so_ important that it's genuinely frustrating me how we can only pick ONE of those options
And hug should be much longer, and hug option should be instead of kiss or both option. And I also agree that I want pick all supportive lines. Most because of his different answers, we can knew more about him. And more, I hate that we can’t have both scenes after Araj and unprovoked. And also this dialogue is so good if tav not romance him, I want option to start romance him from there, because It happened to me while I’ve been playing very first time. Before this scene I didn’t care about Astarion at all. All his romance lines was rejected. I had Gale 😅😅😅 But when he opened his true self it’s just irresistible. So my next run of course I was following all his manipulations 😂😢😢
@@nancyvu751 He pretty much appreciates all your action of affection. However in real life I don't suggest people do that, because people who has trauma of being sexually coerced or harrassed, or physically abused would not appreciated to be hug suddenly. It would be better if we support them by other form of action and by words. Or, we care about by staying by their side. Trust me, I've seen people and even animal who had went through all that awful things. The last thing they want is hug. Also, it felt nice when I heard his voice shakes when Tav say that they don't need to have sex until he wants to. It's obvious that he felt moved by your consideration.
@@nancyvu751This. He wouldn't be Approving otherwise. Of course, not every victim of sexual abuse is the same and some don't like sudden physical contact, but Astarion is one of those that crave nonsexual physical intimacy even while he's fresh from his experiences. Ideally, there'd be an option to ask first, I think, and then he'll be surprised that he likes this form of affection and then not needing a lot of permission for it as much as he doesn't need to be asked to say "I love you" for him to freely it. Edit: to freely say* it, nonsexual physical* intimacy
I would love to be able to do both give him a hug while telling him you can be together without intimacy for a while he needs the reassurance of both I think
I hope Larian will change this dialog at some point. I love the hug scene, I don't want to miss out on it. It's probably the only instance of non-sexual intimacy he experienced in 200 years and I wish you could show him more of it later in the game. But the best option to chose here is obviously the 'we can be together without sex', because it is adressing his biggest insecurity in the relationship (see later scenes with Halsin and the brothel).
I kinda wish we could hug or even cuddle with Astarion instead of kissing him. Show him he can still have the closeness and affection he's been starved of. Could just sit close to him and nothing sexual happens, but he still gets to be held and feel wanted and loved.
I really want to choose different in this scene, but the hug.. It wouldn't be so important to me if I hadn't seen the off-camera animation. He looks almost hurt when you let him go. While hugging him, there's visible peace in his expression, actual feelings of safety and comfort. Letting him go prompts this horribly sad look that I cannot wipe from my memory.
I wish there would be more non sexual intimate scenes for any companion. I mean, you have a relationship and you can’t even sleep next to your partner. It just feels weird
He gets to giddy at having a partner who will respect his boundaries. It would almost be funny if the circumstances surrounding it weren't so depressing.
my main choice here always was and is opening my mind to him. i love this option because he can see himself that i really care and he is not my toy. another options are pretty nice too but he as a manipulative person also have problems with trust. soooo opening up, showing real thoughts so he could not doubt is best choice for me...
Honestly that is the choice I make for every time I romance him or the one where we open our mind to him as I do love the hug but I felt it was more profound and really let’s him know that we care about him period and I love that the most 😁💙
Whenever I play as OC Astarion, I never romance my companions. He doesn't need physical relationship. Astarion needs emotional safety and someone who won't betray his trust. Someone who will be there through thick and thin, who will wait and help him heal and learn healthy boundaries and beauty of loving the soul, not the body.
So many options in this conversation are technically better than the hug imo, but since this is the only time you can hug him it's very tempting to just go with that (because the man needs all the hugs the world can offer). But I do think he seems to appreciate a less physical approach, especially in this conversation.
Imo he appreciates the hug *because* its physical contact done from affection, not sexual. Ideally we'd have the option to ask him for consent, but I think Astarion is a certain version of touched starved in that he isn't used to physical contact without sexual meaning, or violence/control.
Personally I really wish we could pick all of the supportive dialogues, or at least one of them, and still be able to hug him afterwards. As the reply above me already states, the hug is also a great option because it can show him that physical intimacy is not exclusively sexual, but that it can also be a means of communicating trust and safety. It is rather forceful though, so it would've been nice to be able to ask him first, and/or for the player character to approach him more slowly. But overall outright telling him that he means a lot to you, and that you can be together without sex for as long as he needs, is _so_ important that it's genuinely frustrating me how we can only pick ONE of those options
And hug should be much longer, and hug option should be instead of kiss or both option.
And I also agree that I want pick all supportive lines. Most because of his different answers, we can knew more about him. And more, I hate that we can’t have both scenes after Araj and unprovoked.
And also this dialogue is so good if tav not romance him, I want option to start romance him from there, because It happened to me while I’ve been playing very first time. Before this scene I didn’t care about Astarion at all. All his romance lines was rejected. I had Gale 😅😅😅 But when he opened his true self it’s just irresistible. So my next run of course I was following all his manipulations 😂😢😢
@@nancyvu751 He pretty much appreciates all your action of affection. However in real life I don't suggest people do that, because people who has trauma of being sexually coerced or harrassed, or physically abused would not appreciated to be hug suddenly. It would be better if we support them by other form of action and by words. Or, we care about by staying by their side. Trust me, I've seen people and even animal who had went through all that awful things. The last thing they want is hug.
Also, it felt nice when I heard his voice shakes when Tav say that they don't need to have sex until he wants to. It's obvious that he felt moved by your consideration.
@@nancyvu751This. He wouldn't be Approving otherwise. Of course, not every victim of sexual abuse is the same and some don't like sudden physical contact, but Astarion is one of those that crave nonsexual physical intimacy even while he's fresh from his experiences. Ideally, there'd be an option to ask first, I think, and then he'll be surprised that he likes this form of affection and then not needing a lot of permission for it as much as he doesn't need to be asked to say "I love you" for him to freely it.
Edit: to freely say* it, nonsexual physical* intimacy
I would love to be able to do both give him a hug while telling him you can be together without intimacy for a while he needs the reassurance of both I think
I hope Larian will change this dialog at some point. I love the hug scene, I don't want to miss out on it. It's probably the only instance of non-sexual intimacy he experienced in 200 years and I wish you could show him more of it later in the game. But the best option to chose here is obviously the 'we can be together without sex', because it is adressing his biggest insecurity in the relationship (see later scenes with Halsin and the brothel).
it would be nice if they would add the hug alongside the kiss when you romance him :3
I kinda wish we could hug or even cuddle with Astarion instead of kissing him. Show him he can still have the closeness and affection he's been starved of. Could just sit close to him and nothing sexual happens, but he still gets to be held and feel wanted and loved.
I tear up at this part
The man is pouring his heart at to you 😭 the fact you treat him like a person and not a piece of meat
I really want to choose different in this scene, but the hug.. It wouldn't be so important to me if I hadn't seen the off-camera animation. He looks almost hurt when you let him go. While hugging him, there's visible peace in his expression, actual feelings of safety and comfort. Letting him go prompts this horribly sad look that I cannot wipe from my memory.
I wish there would be more non sexual intimate scenes for any companion.
I mean, you have a relationship and you can’t even sleep next to your partner. It just feels weird
He gets to giddy at having a partner who will respect his boundaries. It would almost be funny if the circumstances surrounding it weren't so depressing.
my main choice here always was and is opening my mind to him. i love this option because he can see himself that i really care and he is not my toy. another options are pretty nice too but he as a manipulative person also have problems with trust. soooo opening up, showing real thoughts so he could not doubt is best choice for me...
Honestly that is the choice I make for every time I romance him or the one where we open our mind to him as I do love the hug but I felt it was more profound and really let’s him know that we care about him period and I love that the most 😁💙
как вы получили эту сцену? в тот же длинный отдых после убийства ортона, или нет?
Нет. Эта сцена запускается при ночевке, поле встречи с дроу(Орай Облодрай) (если Астарион присутствовали) в лунных башнях.
Whenever I play as OC Astarion, I never romance my companions. He doesn't need physical relationship. Astarion needs emotional safety and someone who won't betray his trust. Someone who will be there through thick and thin, who will wait and help him heal and learn healthy boundaries and beauty of loving the soul, not the body.
How do I get this scene? I never even met the draw in my first playthrough.
In the moon towers, you need to talk to the drow trader Araj Oblodraj, she will want to talk to Astarion. After her there will be this conversation.