[Dante knew and understood something about Astarion, enough to know that his emotional whiplash had something to do with a suppressed life. He didn't talk with Astarion about his time as a slave, but the time must have been significant enough to prevent him from conveying his feelings in a way that was good for him. That he very likely had to choke down his feelings about everything significant and now regulating them was a learning process.
Dante had never been a slave, but he understood those growing pains as well, when his own trauma had forced him into periods of regression, of childlike mannerisms, behaviors that often did not befit a young man or even a grown man. Even now Dante played so much close to the chest and presented this unflappable, boisterous, and sometimes disinterested bravado as a means to conceal himself. It was often better than trying to express himself in a way that was a bit more constructive, he was still reckless with his own life. Getting from where he was to where he is now took work, reflection, pain, and acceptance.
And he was still a mess, but he was a markedly better mess.]
You're a naughty boy and you deserve to be punished [Dante said in response to patiently listening to Astarion's confessions, humor coloring the edge of his voice] but not tonight.
[Instead, Dante leans back just enough to tip Astarion's chin with his fingers so they were looking at one another, even though it must be difficult to meet Dante's eyes at the moment. There were so many ways Astarion could have lashed out at him that night, he could have left Dante for dead, or offed him in his sleep if he wanted, but he didn't.
Instead, he destroyed the cargo, and it was as much about lashing out at Dante as it was lashing out at himself.]
Thank you, I'm glad you told me. It must have been rough dealing with it alone I get why you wanted everything to hurt, even yourself. [And Dante wasn't going to say anything about it to anyone, of course, there was no gain in it now.]
And it's okay, it's in the past and done. [He couldn't do anything about it even if he wanted to, and he didn't want to swamp dive for ruined goods months later. Instead, he traced the haunted edges of Astarion's eyes with his thumbs.] I was a stranger to you, you had no reason to trust me or my reliability, I hope I've changed your mind a little bit.
[Dante offered with a lopsided grin.]
And if there's a time where you have no idea what to do with yourself, you can come find me. You can yell and fuss, you can be angry and passionate, hell if you need to hit something we can grab a few training swords and go all day until you're satisfied. [It was something Dante could do and he was good at it.] For now I think you can let yourself off of this hook, but in the future if you sink another cargo wagon, I'm gonna need flowers, chocolates, romance, make-up sex, a little groveling, an entire party in celebration of yours truly...and if I think of anything else you'll be put on notice.
[Okay, Dante wouldn't make Astarion jump through those kinds of hoops, but the horror of it was there.]
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Dante had never been a slave, but he understood those growing pains as well, when his own trauma had forced him into periods of regression, of childlike mannerisms, behaviors that often did not befit a young man or even a grown man. Even now Dante played so much close to the chest and presented this unflappable, boisterous, and sometimes disinterested bravado as a means to conceal himself. It was often better than trying to express himself in a way that was a bit more constructive, he was still reckless with his own life. Getting from where he was to where he is now took work, reflection, pain, and acceptance.
And he was still a mess, but he was a markedly better mess.]
You're a naughty boy and you deserve to be punished [Dante said in response to patiently listening to Astarion's confessions, humor coloring the edge of his voice] but not tonight.
[Instead, Dante leans back just enough to tip Astarion's chin with his fingers so they were looking at one another, even though it must be difficult to meet Dante's eyes at the moment. There were so many ways Astarion could have lashed out at him that night, he could have left Dante for dead, or offed him in his sleep if he wanted, but he didn't.
Instead, he destroyed the cargo, and it was as much about lashing out at Dante as it was lashing out at himself.]
Thank you, I'm glad you told me. It must have been rough dealing with it alone I get why you wanted everything to hurt, even yourself. [And Dante wasn't going to say anything about it to anyone, of course, there was no gain in it now.]
And it's okay, it's in the past and done. [He couldn't do anything about it even if he wanted to, and he didn't want to swamp dive for ruined goods months later. Instead, he traced the haunted edges of Astarion's eyes with his thumbs.] I was a stranger to you, you had no reason to trust me or my reliability, I hope I've changed your mind a little bit.
[Dante offered with a lopsided grin.]
And if there's a time where you have no idea what to do with yourself, you can come find me. You can yell and fuss, you can be angry and passionate, hell if you need to hit something we can grab a few training swords and go all day until you're satisfied. [It was something Dante could do and he was good at it.] For now I think you can let yourself off of this hook, but in the future if you sink another cargo wagon, I'm gonna need flowers, chocolates, romance, make-up sex, a little groveling, an entire party in celebration of yours truly...and if I think of anything else you'll be put on notice.
[Okay, Dante wouldn't make Astarion jump through those kinds of hoops, but the horror of it was there.]
For now, I'll settle for a kiss, if you want to?