Noctis never had any real chance of outmaneuvering Barnabas here, or even catching on to the other king's subtle manipulation in the first place. He's been fooled by less, from people he knew better. Even Ardyn still takes him by surprise sometimes, and Ardyn's the least subtle manipulator in the world.

There's a part of him that wants to shove Barnabas' hand aside and warp out of here. He doesn't have to stand here and let this creepy king of darkness seduce him. In fact, he probably shouldn't.

But he's pretty sure he's gonna. Actually, he's starting to think maybe he already did. Despite what one might think, considering he's dating Ardyn, no one has ever pulled this kind of stunt with Noctis before. No one's ever been this kind of inevitable, magnetic force of lust with him. And Noctis reacts poorly to others trying to assert their authority over him, but Barnabas hasn't even really done that. He hasn't had to.

So Noctis doesn't stop Barnabas from tilting Rosie's chin up to meet his eyes with her warm, brown ones. All this talk of titillation makes Rosie's face blush hotter, and Barnabas pulling him close to that sculpted chest of his only makes it worse.

"Uh..." Yeah, it's way too late to pretend. The heat pulsing between Rosie's legs demands attention and for better or worse, Noctis wants it from Barnabas Tharmr.

"...sure, go for it."