Or was it just fascination at what the Envoy might look like up close?

I don't find that so weird. I mean, 'how was I never actually able to tell' is a pretty naggy question. I'm not saying it's not about attraction too - the fact that he finds Shen Wei attractive is probably a serious factor in how... entranced... he gets - Im just saying he has other reasons to stare, and also reasons not to be thinking of smooching him right there. *g*