[ Oh. That’s — entirely unexpected. His features loosen, eyes widening to take in Astarion’s parted mouth, the shadows hollowing out his cheeks, his already too-sharp angles brought into relief.

Some of the tension bleeds from his shoulders as they square to face Astarion properly. He taps the hardback with each finger in turn. ]

[ wry, ] You weren’t so unreasonable. [ His breath catches, and he coughs into his hand, trying to obscure the emotion that wells up at the thought of this past week (and of the Astarion he knows, gone). ]

Just — off. [ Ahem. ] How strange it is, to say I missed you, when you’ve been here, and yet.

[ Gale did. The real him. ]