[ Were he a wiser man, he'd cut the whole thing off now, consider it a fun little exercise in flirting with no strings attached now that hunting isn't a priority, and move on. But he doesn't. Perhaps it's because of the petty part of himself that refuses to follow the rules as dictated to him, or out of simple curiosity as to what will come next, or a desire to keep playing the game.
The latter scenario isn't impossible — an actual ask brings their game of chicken to an impasse, but only one that will last until they next meet. Can he wheedle Mat into being the one to suggest a second date, will they ever broach the topic of genuine affection, etc.
Then again, perish the thought, but perhaps it's because he actually wants to go. ]
I would. Name the time and the place, and I'll be there.
[ And perhaps — not so divorced from any of the former hypotheticals — there's something about Mat's general earnestness (try as he might not to be) that makes the idea of being pursued appealing. At the very least, he hasn't been scared off by the fact that he's a vampire spawn; that's not nothing. ]
Don't sell yourself so short. That's my job, I think.
[ And as for that last point, somewhat harder for Astarion to brook without outright admitting that he simply loves to never give a straight answer to anything: ]
I suppose it doesn't cost me anything to promise you that much, though I won't go so far as to say it's the least I can do.
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The latter scenario isn't impossible — an actual ask brings their game of chicken to an impasse, but only one that will last until they next meet. Can he wheedle Mat into being the one to suggest a second date, will they ever broach the topic of genuine affection, etc.
Then again, perish the thought, but perhaps it's because he actually wants to go. ]
I would. Name the time and the place, and I'll be there.
[ And perhaps — not so divorced from any of the former hypotheticals — there's something about Mat's general earnestness (try as he might not to be) that makes the idea of being pursued appealing. At the very least, he hasn't been scared off by the fact that he's a vampire spawn; that's not nothing. ]
Don't sell yourself so short. That's my job, I think.
[ And as for that last point, somewhat harder for Astarion to brook without outright admitting that he simply loves to never give a straight answer to anything: ]
I suppose it doesn't cost me anything to promise you that much, though I won't go so far as to say it's the least I can do.
But you have my answer, on both fronts, now.