[It is shocking, because she, once again, gives him far too much credit. Insofar as he believes.]

I… Perhaps it’s true, what you say. [That he’s kept pieces of himself held together, fragmented as they are, even if it’s cut his hands to do so.] But I hold steadfast to the less-than-flattering bits, as befitting of a man cursed to live as an undead.

[Why is it admirable to hold onto the things that are shadowed and ugly?]

My helping you… In fact, my helping anyone has only been a recent habit as of late. And I still will complain about it, from time to time.

[Astarion and heroics still never get along with each other, you know.]