Alistair hesitates—because if he's trying to mark a start, there's the moment in the caves in the Western Approach when he admitted what he wanted, or the moment in the stables when imagining life in Rivain meant imagining the back of Zevran's neck—but then he nods. Barely. He doesn't want to put out Zevran's eye with his Distinguished Nose.

"I was going to kiss you," he says, "as a joke, because you were worrying about my reputation. But it wouldn't really have been a joke, so I didn't. I probably should have. But I liked that you were—with me, you didn't have to—" Stuttering. That's what he's been reduced to. He shifts back a couple of inches to get a sheepish handle on his mouth. "I know everyone wants you."