Little does Astarion know, watching from that distance, that when pressed by the woman to be charming, Cole froze up a little bit inside. He could hear her sadness, her strain, trapped in an unhappy courtship with a man who called her plain so she would not stray towards better prospects.

So he had done the only thing he could think to.

He drew himself up, fixed her with a smile, and told her in pale imitation:

"You...are just so radiant that you stunned me for a second...

...Darling...."

It felt strange. But it seemed to work. Even if she was just laughing at him. He really would have to thank the pale elf later.