[ Someone he can trust? The faintest hint of surprise flickers across Astarion's face at just how quickly the man had come to such a conclusion. The flowers, as if mirroring his own thoughts, giggle amongst themselves: 'Trust him? Oh, but he better pray the spawn doesn't take him back to his master!'

Fortunately, the man doesn't seem interested. Even more fortunately—he's suggesting they leave. Which means it doesn't have to be Astarion's idea at all. ]

I suppose we should, [ Astarion says, feigning ambivalence. Still, one might notice some of the tension ease out of his shoulders at the suggestion. ] It's probably best if go back the way we came, in that case. The devil you know, and all that. [ He flashes a quick smile. ] Though, take care we don't end up on this garden's other path; the plants there are eager to hurt rather more than just feelings.

[ He'll walk back with Vash in that direction, feeling just a little smug at leaving these wretched weeds behind. As for the new acquaintance with him... Astarion still hasn't quite made up his mind. This "Vash" seems perfectly pleasant and that, in itself, is cause for suspicion. He'd heard the secrets, hadn't he? He can't actually think Astarion is trustworthy after all that, even if he had some slight suspicion that not everything the flowers had said was true. Which means, either he has an ulterior motive in pretending otherwise...

Or he really is just an idiot. Astarion certainly knows which he'd prefer to be true. ]

So. Aside from malicious gardens, what other horrors has this place subjected you to? I'd like to know what to expect.