Lae'zel is exactly like that example . . . she respects you based on your actions and dislikes you if you try coddling her.
In her own different way. The drow would really hate you if you coddled her. Lae'zel can be a bitch but this drow would REALLY snap back at you. With pure venom and spite. Worst Lae'zel will do is go "I don't appreciate that. Man up and tell the truth or it's my way."
Lae'zel is more like a naive child then an experienced drow that won't stand for being duped. The drow doesn't fall into the trap of denial as easily. Meanwhile Lae'zel is more pessimistic. She's got the "can do" attitude but deals in what she believes is realistic. Still discovering the impossible can happen if you just don't give up. Eventually she does state this herself "I will get the parasite out of my head. etc, etc." (note that she doesn't mention purification here) and she gets her act together. But she needs a push from the player. The drow never needed that push. Rather simply to be understood. Without the excuses. Neither will stand for excuses, but it's Lae'zel that needs the help more. Because even if she puts on a good show of being confident and direct she's still very naive and inexperienced. But she knows enough to know how counter productive wallowing in negatives is. Which is why she's able to put on a brave face. And honestly without a fake smile to boot. The drow basically never smiles, but she will love you. If you're simply honest. Shame her ending involves dying to eating a poisoned apple.
We always get these "They die in the end" endings in BG2. But that just leaves more questions. Like "Who poisoned the drow and why". And "What drove Sarevok to protect that person and get ran through and die?" (more to the point, how did he even lose?) Would be neat if BG3 actually answered some of these questions. Could have that person Sarevok protected as a character in BG3 for example. Or whoever is responsible for poisoning that drow. Would help with tying up some loose ends.
