"That sounds like a very dull world. Would it be true of other things and walking? No humming? No reading? What about looking at stuff?"

She is going to lead by example and not answer.

See, now she wants to be contrary just to be a little shit. Possibly Astarion's rubbing off on her, but really, she was like this before, too.

"My father and I would play a game that would be quite boring if we couldn't walk and talk at the same time. Think of how I would have grown up if we didn't compete to find and name nearby herbs! I might not even be a druid. It'd be terrible."

Nope, no talking. It's a matter of pride now.

Astarion on the other hand is delighted. "For some reason I thought you parents were altogether not in the picture. That sounds very cute."

"Oh, no, they just don't want to live in the woods with a bunch of druids. Dad has a whole speech about the comforts of civilization and the efficiency of division of labor and specialization. They live in Wyrm's Crossing, I visit every year or so. It's one of those things I get a bit looked down on for, traipsing back to civilization regularly."

"...Wyrm's Crossing. Is your dad the elf?"

"'The' elf, he says, like there aren't a number of them. He's the alchemist elf that's been there for ages, yes, if that's what you mean."

"I meant out of your parents, the one who is an elf," he clarifies. "And I believe I've met him. What a small world."

...he's having some kind of emotion about this and he's not certain what it is. Best to ignore it.

"Oh, I see. Well, he has been there for several hundred years, with elven lifespans it does seem like it'd just be a matter of time, if you live in the area."

"Besides, even if there are 'a number' of us, that number is low. Two elves in the same city will just run into each other unless they are shut-ins."

"He insists very strongly that he is not and will never run his shop in Baldur's Gate proper, thank you."

"A healthy attitude. Baldur's Gate has a tendency to burn to the ground a bit too often."

"That is almost exactly his reasoning, too, you really have met him!"

"Unfortunately I personally like living in the big city too much to settle elsewhere."

Liar liar pants on fire aaaahahahahahah.

"Really! I find it kind of nice to visit, but don't think I'd want to live there? It's so crowded and loud and busy. What appeals about living in it versus visiting for the nice stuff and then leaving?"

"Having a bath every day is very nice, comfortable clothes are very nice, convenient stores nearby are very nice, high concentration of people is actually part of what's very nice."

"The bath and clothes I can see, convenient stores I can sort of see, but how is a high concentration of people you don't know and might never see again nice??"

Shrug. "I like people. I like meeting people, I like getting to know them. I like being around people, knowing they're alive and living their own stories. I have never forgotten a name."

Which is a little bit of a curse, in his specific situation, but he can't actually bring himself to regret this.

"Hm. I think I'd just find it overwhelming. But I do see the appeal of, you know. Meeting new people. Having a social circle that is larger than, say, a druid circle."

"Oh I would simply perish if I were limited to a druid circle."

(Shadowheart quietly rolls her eyes.)

(His hearing is very good, though.)

"Really? You'd perish? Just burst into flames at the thought?? Or is it just falling over dead, of boredom and loneliness?"

"You know, I would have thought it'd be the second one, but now that you mention it perhaps bursting into flames would be the more likely end. Fortunately I will never have to find out."