[ Astarion turns his glare towards the sound of chipper commentary, only to pause when he sees what his recently-met acquaintance is wearing.

Well. At least his costume isn't that forward. ]

Certainly not, [ he retorts, and if the cat ears on his head could flatten in displeasure, they would. ] Nor in this attire either. You were right when you said that this city is spiteful.

[ Worse still, it has a sense of humor. Astarion might've even found it funny if it were happening to someone else. He crosses his arms, stubbornly refusing to leave the threshold where he stands. Perhaps he can't turn back, but thus far, he hasn't been forced to move forward either. He'll cling to whatever bit of autonomy he can get. ]

Well? What happens now? [ he demands, as if Miu has any say in it. ] Did they drag us all the way here to have us spill our guts in costume?

[ She'd said the City has a habit of digging up whatever makes them most uncomfortable, hadn't she? There have been no whispering flowers or compulsions to share as of yet, but Astarion has a bad feeling that it's merely the quiet before the storm. Certainly, he's in no rush to step forward and find out. ]