"Well, let's not get carried away. I'm open to a little showering." Or a lot. So long as it remains the kind of empty, superficial ego-fluffing he tends to gravitate toward, himself. Genuinely being someone worthy or impressive in another's eyes is - not something he's going to get used to, overnight. Not after a lifetime of being shunned and punished for the same things she would so easily praise him for.

It's easier just to be superficial, in general.

Anders shrugs, pulling up short beside her. "I think I'd prefer to be certain the damsel is entirely out of distress, before I take my leave. It wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me, otherwise."

And it's this or run off back down to the beach to try and make sense of that chaos, anyway. At least here he knows he's doing something decent.