[ Despite the short answer being not that much, that title alone — the Dragon Reborn — is enough to give Astarion pause. What he knows, of a legendary hero and a cycle of reincarnation, he might once have called the stuff of stories alone, tales told to comfort children and teach them a little about morality, but— well, he's been through a lot, recently, and even if that weren't the case, there would be the fact of what he'd just tasted in Rand's blood.
Just as slowly: ] I see.
[ Because the implication is clear enough, even if Astarion isn't immediately sure not to make of it. Not out of fear, but a lack of a blueprint to follow when it comes to meeting legendary figures made flesh.
(Still, some part of him finds the revelation almost reassuring — when one imagines a champion, who Rand is by nature isn't far off.)
He's not quite sure what else to say — whether he should offer sympathy, surprise, honor at having been allowed to feed upon the Dragon's blood, disbelief, supplication. Every option demands a certain level of deference, of care. Yet, instead, Astarion's expression shifts into one of fairly clear mischief before he says, in the kind of tone one might use after being told a piece of particularly salacious gossip: ]
no subject
Just as slowly: ] I see.
[ Because the implication is clear enough, even if Astarion isn't immediately sure not to make of it. Not out of fear, but a lack of a blueprint to follow when it comes to meeting legendary figures made flesh.
(Still, some part of him finds the revelation almost reassuring — when one imagines a champion, who Rand is by nature isn't far off.)
He's not quite sure what else to say — whether he should offer sympathy, surprise, honor at having been allowed to feed upon the Dragon's blood, disbelief, supplication. Every option demands a certain level of deference, of care. Yet, instead, Astarion's expression shifts into one of fairly clear mischief before he says, in the kind of tone one might use after being told a piece of particularly salacious gossip: ]
—Really?