‘ don’t come any closer! ‘ / @talkfirst
Tension is broken with a laugh -- more of an instinctual response than anything genuine -- but he stops dead in his tracks, doing as the stranger demands of him. Hands raise, almost innocently, but when his smiles, his teeth are stained an unsightly red. ❝ Alright, then... I’ll stay right where I am, but I would prefer if you pointed that thing elsewhere. ❞ Astarion knows the blood is alarming; he understands, and he has only himself to blame for being careless in cleaning up his own mess. It is to avoid confrontations such as the one he finds himself in at this very moment, a weapon brandished in his face.
Hand feebly swipes at his chin, the front of his jacket, and he straightens up as he slowly rubs his hands together, wondering what comes next. ❝ I’m no threat to you; that may be difficult to believe after seeing me like this, but I’m simply trying to survive. Same as you. ❞ His assumption is based merely on the fact that given the space they occupy, the stranger would not be lurking around dark corners otherwise. He hopes, however, appealing to this fact will allow him to walk away unharmed. And if not, well... he is not completely defenseless.
