Unprovoked compliments don't factor into Anders' day-to-day operations--they're an oddity, something he hasn't dealt with enough to know what to do with. There's usually a string attached. A catch. An ulterior motive for stroking his ego. They're not said just to be said.

Anders is content to chase after snide banter until the joke is over and the "snide" has overtaken the "banter," but sincerity when he can't identify the aim behind is uncomfortable. Nathaniel's comment leaves a ripple of surprised pleasure in its wake, but not enough for Anders to look too closely at it. That's always where a person runs into trouble--looking too closely, reading into things.

Easier to run his fingers through the grass and nettle the man in front of him some more. "Who are you? You're talking like someone who actually has interests outside of polishing family heirlooms and sighing in the direction of other Wardens. I'm beginning to think you were body snatched some time when I wasn't looking."