[ Astarion considers being cruel. He thinks it would wound Iorveth deeply if he told him not to touch him and sent him away, and that might make Astarion feel better for a fraction of a second. After that fraction of a second, though, he'd feel even worse, so he pushes the urge away. That counts as personal growth, probably.
He also thinks that the Iorveth of the past would probably have left upon being told to, and it would be fair to reward him for realizing that Astarion doesn't actually want him to go at all, and that when he pushes Iorveth away he actually wants Iorveth to come closer. (On the other hand, he should probably be punished for encouraging this sort of immature, emotionally constipated behavior, but Astarion won't be the one to do it.)
It was laborious to turn away, and it's laborious to turn back toward Iorveth. It does hurt a little, and he makes sure to say, ] Ow, [ in the most pathetic way and with the most pathetic expression he can muster so that Iorveth feels bad for him. Once a manipulator, always a manipulator. ]
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He also thinks that the Iorveth of the past would probably have left upon being told to, and it would be fair to reward him for realizing that Astarion doesn't actually want him to go at all, and that when he pushes Iorveth away he actually wants Iorveth to come closer. (On the other hand, he should probably be punished for encouraging this sort of immature, emotionally constipated behavior, but Astarion won't be the one to do it.)
It was laborious to turn away, and it's laborious to turn back toward Iorveth. It does hurt a little, and he makes sure to say, ] Ow, [ in the most pathetic way and with the most pathetic expression he can muster so that Iorveth feels bad for him. Once a manipulator, always a manipulator. ]