[ Iorveth, who has experienced his own brand of being used and abused, who has vowed never again to allow someone to bend him to their own agenda, has a bad habit that he can't kick: he finds an exception, and gives them everything.
On some level, he recognizes that Astarion plays into that permissiveness. But the manipulation is benign (to him), and despite all of Iorveth's cynicism, he still naively trusts Astarion not to hurt him. Not like the queen of the forests who bartered with his life, or the man who he loved and lost, or the dragon who never had emotional stakes in Iorveth's service. Astarion is different. He's not like anyone Iorveth has ever met.
And, he'd argue, his trust is justified. Case in point: Astarion doesn't tell him to fuck off, and he softens despite the melodrama of that ow. ]
Beloved. [ Smoothing a thumb over Astarion's cheek, under one of those big, sad eyes. ] You could have burned Neverwinter down in the past, and I'd not love you less for it.
[ Bad example: Neverwinter was decimated in recent history. But the point stands, and it's also heard by Gale, who balks a little and clears his throat at the foot of the stairs leading into the sitting room. ]
no subject
On some level, he recognizes that Astarion plays into that permissiveness. But the manipulation is benign (to him), and despite all of Iorveth's cynicism, he still naively trusts Astarion not to hurt him. Not like the queen of the forests who bartered with his life, or the man who he loved and lost, or the dragon who never had emotional stakes in Iorveth's service. Astarion is different. He's not like anyone Iorveth has ever met.
And, he'd argue, his trust is justified. Case in point: Astarion doesn't tell him to fuck off, and he softens despite the melodrama of that ow. ]
Beloved. [ Smoothing a thumb over Astarion's cheek, under one of those big, sad eyes. ] You could have burned Neverwinter down in the past, and I'd not love you less for it.
[ Bad example: Neverwinter was decimated in recent history. But the point stands, and it's also heard by Gale, who balks a little and clears his throat at the foot of the stairs leading into the sitting room. ]