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[divinestrike]

[Random starters are okay, too!]

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[divinestrike]

Well, if anyone should ever worship me, I'll be sure to tell you the very depths of my feelings regarding that.

[No. No, she won't.]

Are you just making conversation with me or are you prying for a reason in particular?

[nibbling]

We're travelling companions. I think it's important that we get to know each other quite intimately.

[ You know, normal stuff (that can be used against her later if needed). What boys does she like? What weird stuff is she into? Ever killed a man just to watch him die? ]

[divinestrike]

I can agree that we should know each other. To a point. I don't think you need to know me intimately or vice versa to accomplish that. All I need to know is that I can trust you at my back.

[And frankly, she's not sure she can.]

My tastes in... such antics, Astarion, I don't think will be of benefit to you. I actually think you'd be quite bored by what you'd find out. I've never had much time for those kinds of outings.

[nibbling]

You must be awfully pent up.

[divinestrike]

[She is so thankful that he can't actually hear her laughing. In that short, awkward, stilted way she sometimes does when she isn't really sure how to address something.]

Must I? I have to confess that whilst I have fleeting thoughts here and there, the being preoccupied thing makes it pretty easy for me not to often consider it.

[But the truth here is, if she really, really gives it consideration, she's pretty pent up. Wrapped up tightly beneath self-imposed repression and an incredible strength of will and discipline.]

[nibbling]

You really are such a long-suffering hero, aren't you?

[ Luckily, she can't see him roll his eyes. Look out for number one, Nepione! ]

[divinestrike]

That isn't how I see it. I'm not suffering. You'll hate hearing this, but it's a little easier when I can focus on you and the others. Even if the recipient of this is annoyed by it. That said, I don't expect you to understand. I'm well aware that I'm a little strange.

[nibbling]

Oh, I certainly don't hate hearing that you're looking out for me. The others, I could take or leave.

[divinestrike]

They're just as important as you, you know. We don't have to all agree, but we should try to at least get along a little. This little misadventure we're on, it'll go better if everyone feels like they have value and they have a place they belong. I want us all to grow and be strong together, whatever that might entail.

I'll do what I think is necessary to achieve that.

[Including murder. She just won't enjoy it.]

[nibbling]

[ Now he really could vomit from the sugary sweetness. ]

Ugh. Even Wyll? Even Gale?

[divinestrike]

They have their place, so yes, even them. You don't have to like them, Astarion. You just have to behave. A little. Don't suppose I can bribe you with something to make sure we keep the peace around here.

[nibbling]

I'm nothing if not reasonable. Make your offer, darling.

[divinestrike]

You wanted to use me as bait, right? I'm willing to help you catch your food at night. Gods know I don't sleep much to begin with. I won't be missing anything.

You get to eat. You're happy. Everyone else can be happy, too.

[nibbling]

I suppose a full stomach would make it easier to tolerate the Blade of Frontiers referring to himself in the third person.

[divinestrike]

If you get tired of listening to him, you can always just come and spend time with me.

[nibbling]

And here I thought you were opposed to getting to know each other more intimately.

[divinestrike]

That is not equivalent to me saying I'm going to throw you down into my bedroll and demand you make penance for misbehaviour.

[nibbling]

And yet you've made such a detailed scenario for someone not at all pent up.

[divinestrike]

I thought it might be more the thing you'd expect to hear from me, actually.

[nibbling]

I don't know. The repressed type usually strike me as wanting to be thrown down on the bedroll themselves.

[divinestrike]

Hypothetically speaking, and allow me to reiterate that I do mean hypothetically—wouldn't it be possible for someone to be both pent up and repressed at the same time? Just as much as I think it'd be possible for the same person to want to both throw down and be thrown down.

Obviously not at the same time.

[nibbling]

Yes, dear.

The repression usually leads to being pent up, and before you know it, you're describing punishing your vampire spawn campmate for being a bad boy.

[divinestrike]

You're starting to sound like an expert in the field. Is this something you experience often? Forgive me if I have trouble picturing anyone referring to you as 'bad boy.'

[If she carefully disregards the weight of the subject matter, the mental imagery of 'Bad Boy Astarion' is greatly amusing.]

[nibbling]

[ She's right, in a way. When he got called 'bad', it usually wasn't in such a light-hearted context. ]

I'm flattered. You think I'm a good boy, then?

[divinestrike]

I didn't say that. I think you are as you're meant to be. Right here. Right now.

[What a diplomatic way to not answer him at all.]