[ Astarion? Deflecting? Perish the thought! ]

Exactly! Imagine how insufferable I'd be, then. And there would be nothing to sate my desire. I'd probably have to drink from the living.

[ this is how Xenk knows he's becoming a friend, because Astarion only starts joking about Vampire Things with friends. Even if he wouldn't use that word, we know. Joking about vampirism is something he does on a regular day of course but the fact Xenk is also undead has given him license to be twice as bad ]