I also enjoy feeding your ego. The results are always worth it.

[The grin Astarion is given is half genuine and half absolute shit eating. Alucard has missed this. It isn't due to Astarion being a vampire anymore either. It is just the easy pattern of friendship despite time away and memories fading.]

And yet you haven't lead with it? Are you well, my friend?

[The remark is a kinder buffer to the serious query.]

I haven't, but that doesn't mean it hasn't come to pass. It just means I'm in a cave with someone who has a serious sunlight allergy.