Astarion stared at you, his arms crossed. But he looked away as quickly as he looked over. He had been acting a little different around you. Of course you'd ask if he was okay.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine. It's just..."

He paused, avoiding your eyes. He looked like a puppy who had just gotten in trouble.

"I.. had a plan. A nice simple plan: Seduce you, sleep with you, manipulate your feelings so you never turn on me!"

Astarion said with a giggle at the end. It wasn't his usual excited or mischievous giggle. It was a nervous one.

"It was easy. Instinctive."

"All you had to do-"

His voice began to crack.

"-was fall for it. And all I had to do was not fall for you."

Astarion's gaze finally moved from the floor to meet your eyes. Your beautiful eyes...

"Which... is where my nice little plan falls apart."

He took your hands into his.

"You're incredible... You deserve something real."

He began to whisper. Astarion wanted his next sentence to be for your ears and your ears only.

"I want us to be something real, darling."