Although perhaps there's one more thing we could discuss: your friend. He's a vampire, no? Or one of their spawn, at least. Don't worry, we're all friends under the Absolute. I won't bite. Oh I'd prefer if you did. I assume he belongs to you? [Excuse me? He's his own person.] I'm sure he really believes that. How utterly adorable. Do you have a name, spawn? Astarion, but hold on- Good. Now, Astarion, I've dreamt of being bitten by a vampire since I was a young girl. I'm sorry? You want to be bitten? To feel your life's blood slipping away? To dance on the edge between life and death? Yes, I want it. I'll even compensate you - a potion of legendary power that forever increases the strength of the one who consumes it. It's not for sale, but it's yours if you bite me. I will have to decline. Excuse me? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you're squandering it. I gave you my answer. Can't you talk some sense into your obstinate charge? [I am surprised, Astarion. I thought you'd jump at a chance like this.] I'm sorry, but could you excuse us a moment? Are you actually asking me to do this? Trading me for some potion? Because there's something wrong with her blood. I can smell it from here - it's rank. [This is your choice - do what you want.] All right. Thank you. It's still a no, I'm afraid. How very disappointing. Thank you. I appreciated that. I want to thank you. [For having such delectable blood?] For what you said while I was in front of that vile drow. I spent two hundred years using my body to lure pretty things back for my Master. What I wanted, how I felt about what I was doing, it never mattered. You could have asked me to do the same - to throw myself at her, what I wanted be damned. But you didn't. And I'm grateful. [I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do.] It's a novel concept, I admit. And a little intimidating. It would have been so easy to bite her. To just go along with what I was being told to do. A moment of disgust to force myself through. And then I could have carried on, just like before. [So why sleep with me? Did you think you'd get something from it?] Of course, I needed protection. People don't trust vampires - perhaps understandably - so I needed to get someone on my side. And seducing you was easy, frankly. So imagine how stupid I felt when I started to genuinely feel something for you. Trust me, I was not happy about it. You were a complication I didn't see coming. And yet... [I care about you.] Really? [*Hug him.*] You... you are full of surprises, aren't you? Honestly, I have no idea what we're doing. Or what comes next. But I know that this? This is nice.
