[ The last time Iorveth walked away from him was not actually that long ago, but Astarion very kindly decides not to mention that. Besides, the feeling of Iorveth walking away from him is probably the worst feeling in the world — and that's coming from someone who was regularly tortured. He'd rather not dwell on it. ]

Well, I want you even more than I did then.

[ Competitive, even in this. It's also true, or at least he thinks it is. Astarion is barely in touch with his emotions now, but back then, he'd been so heavily removed from them as to not really even understand it as wanting. He'd just known that he had a desire to stand near Iorveth, and that it angered him when Iorveth disapproved of him. It's only with the hindsight of wholeheartedly believing that Iorveth is his One Perfect Person™ that he can categorize it as what it was: baby's first (and last, he'd be quick to say!!) crush.

And since Reginald never explicitly said he's not allowed to feel Iorveth up a little, he places a warm (in comparison to his usual 'dead body' temperature) hand on his chest, smoothing over Iorveth's tattoo. ]

My life began when I met you. Everything before that was just— [ Hm. He hums in thought. ] A bad dream.