Simple acceptance. In the end, it's all Ellie's hungry for. Still, the hand tousling her hair makes her miss Joel with a deep, cracking ache. Astarion is so different from him in feel, but the memories bubble up regardless.

As much as Ellie is still angry with him, as much as she hated him sometimes, there was no doubt that he loved her, and what is grief but love with nowhere to go?

Adore you, Astarion says, like that very thing hasn't killed hundreds, maybe thousands.

Ellie rubs a hand across her face as she moves to settle down on the sheets, and opens her eyes to look at him. They're a little less than lucid due to the alcohol, but they focus on him readily enough.

She parts her lips like she's about to ask a question, but instead she reaches out, pulls him down with her.