"See, that right there definitely helps keep those cracks at bay, my dear," Bard taunted playfully, tsking softly as he tucked his arms behind his back as he kept walking backwards. "All the more reason you should sing for me sometime. I'd simply have to mention Thorin sometime afterward and no one would know any wise that you had shown me a softer side."

His grin is full of mirth and maybe just a bit of adoration because he did so love to push Thranduil's buttons sometimes.

"I suppose I am. For more reasons than you not strangling me though," he added in a thoughtful manner, his eyes soft as his grin turned to a smile before he was turning to walk correctly. It hit him how much he was pushing it and a part of him was now worried that maybe it was too much too soon. Internally he cursed himself, glancing upwards for a moment as he berated himself, hoping that Thranduil would take it all in stride as usual.

He didn't mind stepping over that line but there was no point in moving so quickly; in attempting to do something too quickly and ruining any chance he might have.