"He'd never go for it."

"Getting rid of me so soon, Circe?"

She gives him an arch look. "I do what's best for my crew. If you can't swim, you become a liability."

"A good-looking liability."

"Unfortunately I don't keep people around just because they're pretty."

"There's a first for everything."

"We'll see."

"Ah, stop trying to scare the guy, Circe. You've made your point."

Anders is not scared at all. Rather, he's very intrigued by Circe, and likes being challenged.

He doesn't correct Rex, though. "Yes, I'm a very delicate flower. Please be gentle."

Circe bares her teeth. "Gentle is not something I do. Dinner in twenty."

Anders gapes, but quickly closes his mouth. Why is that so enticing?

"Yes, ma'am."

Circe's already turning to leave, and so misses his reaction. (Probably.)

Rex, on the other, is smirking.

If Rex was one of Hawke's friends, Anders would nudge him and teasingly ask him to stop. Since he's not, Anders pretends he can't see the smirk.

It doesn't stop Rex smirking. "I can leave you in peace if you want?"

"Ha!" Anders says, and nudges him. Maybe not being Hawke or her friends doesn't matter right now.

Rex nudges back, grinning.

"Do you think she likes me? From that interaction?" Anders laughs.

"She doesn't dislike you, which this soon after meeting her is as good as."

"I've figured that, she hides her cards well though."

"You're not wrong. Her and Mak are both a lot like that."

"I don't blame them. It's easier."

"Easier. But lonely sometimes."

"Sometimes you have to be lonely to protect your heart."

"Perhaps."