[Despite the dramatically incredulous noise he makes, there's the threat of a laugh in Astarion's voice. He gives Gale's shoulder a light push, nothing meant to actually put space between them. A breath later the touch turns into a caress along Gale's arm.]
Was that a reference to the bloody tadpoles? I should demand you make that up to me.
[They really shouldn't get too carried away, he knows that. Not here, anyway, when there is a forest full of things that can do terrible things to carcasses. Astarion would like to think he's fierce enough for some of them even in this state, but he's also determined to survive. His lips brush Gale's neck and it immediately feels like a mistake. The man's pulse is strong beneath his lips and so near the surface. Astarion knows it would take nothing to pierce the delicate skin keeping it from him.
Instead, he offers a gentle, restrained nip - enough to tease but not enough to even bruise. For good measure, his tongue flicks out to soothe the little red mark left behind. He's quite certain Gale's blood would do him no good. It might even do him active harm. Somehow, that doesn't make it less tempting.
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Was that a reference to the bloody tadpoles? I should demand you make that up to me.
[They really shouldn't get too carried away, he knows that. Not here, anyway, when there is a forest full of things that can do terrible things to carcasses. Astarion would like to think he's fierce enough for some of them even in this state, but he's also determined to survive. His lips brush Gale's neck and it immediately feels like a mistake. The man's pulse is strong beneath his lips and so near the surface. Astarion knows it would take nothing to pierce the delicate skin keeping it from him.
Instead, he offers a gentle, restrained nip - enough to tease but not enough to even bruise. For good measure, his tongue flicks out to soothe the little red mark left behind. He's quite certain Gale's blood would do him no good. It might even do him active harm. Somehow, that doesn't make it less tempting.
He blames the cold.]