Built for Sin

ASTARION,

As he was putting the finishing touches on his outfit for the day, he noticed Alys walking up to him. His lips grew into a smirk. He was excited to see her already, so early in the morning. Usually, Alys sleeps in a bit later. "Good morning. How do you feel?" She crossed her arms shrugging, "I'm fine. I just feel a bit woozy." Astarion breathes a sigh of relief, "It'll pass. Just be glad I'm not a 'true' vampire." He looked off for a moment, then back at Alys. "A bite from them and you might wake up as a vampire spawn, like my good self. All of a vampire's hunger, but few of their powers."
Alys nodded as she listened, her eyebrows wince in curiosity. "Is that how you're able to stand in the sun? Because you're not a 'true' vampire?" He chuckled as he stepped slightly forward, "Oh no, I should be cinders in this light. I hadn't seen the sun for two hundred years before we crashed here."

"Someone- or something - wants me alive. They've changed the rules."

Astarion kept his arms crossed as he discussed it further, "Standing in the sun, wading through a river, wandering into homes without an invitation - they're all perfectly mundane activities now." He took a deep breath, "As for my other quirks - well, we can all figure those out in time." Alys gave a reassuring smile to him, "If I can help, just ask. We're in this together." He chuckled as he gave a slight wave with his hand, "Oh, you're such a sweetheart."
Alys stepped closer to him as she gave a friendly nudge, "Does this mean we're all good?" He squinted his eyes, yet chuckled. "Of course, darling. I'm just glad you're being sensible about these revelations. I was worried people might turn up with torches and pitchforks." His eyes darted behind Alys then back at her, "Although there is still time.." he trailed off. He watched as Alys turned behind her to see the rest of the group walking up.

"So we're traveling with a vampire, are we? Of course we are."

Gale's face held disgust and annoyance. He scoffed at the vampire, "Word of warning, Astarion: I taste absolutely awful." Shadowheart sighed as she rolled her eyes, "I just better not wake in the night to find fangs in my throat." Astarion opened his mouth to speak when Alys swiftly turned around to the others fully. "Enough. We need him, like it or not." Now it was his turn to speak, "She's not wrong. We're bound together, no matter what comes."
Gale clicked his tongue as he waved his hand in the air, "You say all the right words, but I'm not so sure you mean the right things. Still, I will respect the decision that was made." Astarion clapped his hands together as his usual smirk appeared once again, "There now. We're all friends again."

ALYS,

Alys chuckled nervously as her feet shifted in the sand. If there was one thing she wanted right now, it would be for him to shut the hell up. There was no sense in pushing it, she could feel his passive aggression through his words. "Yes! Yes!" She shouted with an uneasy voice. Everyone soon dissipated and left the pair to themselves.
As she let out a sigh of relief she felt his presence close behind her. In an instance, her breath was caught in her throat and she was frozen. His hand was making his way across her waist. It was in these few fleeting moments she never knew what to think, these past few weeks have been weird. "Leave it to you, to always be on my side." His lips were so close to her ear and it was making her go crazy. Closing her eyes, "In times like these how could I not be?" Her body shook as his grip slightly tightened then released.
Grabbing her hand he spun her around, now facing him. Alys's eyes went wild as his lips curved into a smirk. Once again, going to speak and nothing came out. Beads of sweat were now threatening to fall from her brow. Her thoughts were in a rambled mess, once again it was happening. What was she to do with Astarion so close to her?

Pulling her hand away while giving a nervous chuckle, "Astarion, doesn't a thank you suffice enough?" She watches as his eyes flicker away then back at her, the gears turning in his head. "I mean, isn't relations kind of the last thing on our minds?" His eyes pierce through her as he smacks his tongue. His hand rested on his hip, "Relations? Darling, you're just a sweet sight."
Alys's mouth hung open as her eye twitched. Pulling her lips together she nods her head in bitterness. Crossing her arms she begins to back away, "I'll show you a sweet sight.." she trailed off as Astarion waved her goodbye. Turning on her heels she darted back to her tent. Upon getting there she sees Shadowheart standing by. Slowing down, her head cocks to the side in curiosity. "Shadowheart?" The plain neutral look she wore suddenly disappeared as she grew a slight smile.