[He's not intending to make Taryon uncomfortable on this day, but he can tell he still is nonetheless. Part of him deep down is quite satisfied with that.

He shrugs theatrically.]

Nope, you may relax and sit amongst the children and watch should you desire. Besides, I think the children like you. They still play with your toys.

[Glancing at him as he falls into step beside him, one of his eyebrows quirk up seeing how excited he is to hear that. It's a bit pitiable; what is in his past to make him as happy as a puppy getting a head pat to be told kids play with his toys. (Especially considering his seen children entertain themselves with just sticks.)

He snorts, grinning.]

All right, I promise I won't do anything particularly awful.

[They reach the room that had become the ersatz playroom for the orphans. Astarion opens the door with a flourish, calling out:]

Hello, urchins!

[The ones he has endeared himself to get up and rush over, some calling him Mister Elf, others trying to say his name and messing it up ]

Yes, yes, you're happy to see me, but remember the rules, no touching...!

[It's the quiet weird kids Astarion has troubles with, he mostly winds up just sitting with them ignoring them because they seem to be ignoring him. The rowdy ones he can at least gain a foothold.]

I do have something to show you all, though it isn't magic. Why don't you lot go gather around, including you--

[He looks at Taryon.]

--and I shall start.

[The children excitedly spread out around him, plopping on the floor or a chair they yank over. He overlooks it all with a half-smirk on his lips, hands akimbo.

Once they were all settled, he speaks as his hand deftly loosens the sheath of one of his daggers.]

I was practicing some in my room--helps with the boredom, you know--and thought I ought to show off to you, my tiny tot of an audience. Watch...!

[And so he begins. The dagger almost seems to just appear in his hand, and it glints and flickers, doing a dance in his hand as it goes from point up to point down, a short spin to the side and tumbling over his knuckles until it is back in his hand--then it's spinning up into the air, over his head, making everyone crane their heads to see it. But surely it's rotation is too fast, there is no way even someone like Astarion can track it and catch it without harming himself, but it falls and with a snap of the wrist he has it caught, hilt firmly in his grasp.]

[Children aren't all that hard to impress. Even when he was a spoiled tot, Astarion was dazzled by acts of feat like this at the circus or buskers. All the same, he still has a silly sense of pride when they cheer, some jumping up to clap. When he glances at the adult amongst them and sees Taryon has a look of wonderment on his face, maybe tinged with concern, Astarion feels even more puffed-up.]

Would you like to see more?

[He asks both the children and Taryon, idly flipping the dagger, and with the resounding sounds from the kids he knows the answer. He doesn't have a long repertoire, but he has one more show up his sleeve. A sort of juggling act, but with only one dagger, which may seem lackluster considering but he adds in more spins and impressive catches, most notably tossing it from behind his back and over his shoulder.]