[ Oh. There's the friction: Iorveth has always wanted someone to ask, and Astarion has always been on the side of asking. Opposite poles on a magnet. No wonder, Iorveth thinks, but the realization also guts him; gods, he must have hurt Astarion terribly. Love is a vicious, terrible thing sometimes.
Letting go of Astarion's hand, he reaches up to cup Astarion's face with two palms, thumbs smoothing at his temples. ]
It was selfish frustration on my part. It... [ A low breath. ] ...It rankled, to hear that you'd rather I beg instead of keep your best interests at heart.
But your interests aren't mine to decide. [ Even if things like "making Astarion stay in Waterdeep" might be safer for Astarion in the long run, it ignores what Astarion wants; he sees that a bit more clearly, now. ] And it's shameful that I made you feel unimportant.
[ Stroking under one red eye this time, tracing the perfect line of a well-defined cheekbone. Astarion is still shaped like something Iorveth loves unhealthily. ]
no subject
Letting go of Astarion's hand, he reaches up to cup Astarion's face with two palms, thumbs smoothing at his temples. ]
It was selfish frustration on my part. It... [ A low breath. ] ...It rankled, to hear that you'd rather I beg instead of keep your best interests at heart.
But your interests aren't mine to decide. [ Even if things like "making Astarion stay in Waterdeep" might be safer for Astarion in the long run, it ignores what Astarion wants; he sees that a bit more clearly, now. ] And it's shameful that I made you feel unimportant.
[ Stroking under one red eye this time, tracing the perfect line of a well-defined cheekbone. Astarion is still shaped like something Iorveth loves unhealthily. ]