[ A besotted fool. Maybe so－ Iorveth doesn't do anything by halves. But to avoid the potential for Astarion to feel penned in, Iorveth lets his hand drop and shifts the book on his lap onto the coffeetable in front of him so that it isn't digging uncomfortably into Astarion's leg. ]

The ones currently facing flogging and imprisonment up to a tenday. Though, from what I've heard, the Code Legal doesn't apply to the Zhentarim in Waterdeep－ they've bought enough political power in the city to run rampant with impunity.

[ Listen closely enough, and one should be able to hear the cogs turning in Iorveth's mind again. Always wanting to know everything about what's going on in his periphery, never wanting to be surprised by anything. A survival tactic, hard to turn off. ]

But, mm. Yes, I do prefer your marks.

[ Gear shift. Iorveth knows Astarion isn't much for caring about who holds what seats in which levels of governance. ]