"Who says it's flattery?" Astarion asked, his tone light and almost jovial, lips curling into a smile. It didn't quite reach his eyes, but then his smiles almost never did unless he was speaking to a specific set of people. Maybe his smiles had been easier in the past. More genuine. He couldn't remember any more.

These days they were all part of the act when he found it necessary to put one on.

"It's flirtation."

He ate a little of the cheese and bread, and almost cringed as the texture was worse than the stew. The bread felt like it turned to ask on his tongue. Sapping away any moisture and turning his mouth drier than a desert. The food he'd eaten felt like a heavy knot in his stomach. He washed it down with another sip of wine to alleviate both feelings.

"I mean, we're both attractive men. Had I still been a magistrate I'd say we are legally obligated to flirt at least a little."

His brows raised, "Unless you're only into women- in which case I'll stop. I can behave."