Maybe you guys aren't thinking this through very clearly. Let's try some examples.
Nidhogg and Baron are going to go through a doorway.
N> After you.
B> No, after you.
N> No, I insist. After you.
B> No, I must insist. After you.
N> Really, you go first.
B> Oh, I can't do that. You go, please.
...and then it repeats for a few hours until they finally collapse from exhaustion.
Nidhogg and Baron are planning how to handle something.
B> I think we should do whatever you suggest.
N> Oh no, I'm sure whatever you think of will be the best.
B> etc.
nbnbnb... it just keeps going and going. Mutual deference means nothing ever happens.
Or how about...
Unrealistic co-glamouring
Baron thinks, "Wow, he's the most graceful, angelic thing I've ever seen. I can't even speak in his presence."
Nidhogg thinks, "Wow, he's the most graceful, angelic thing i've ever seen. I can't even speak in his presence."
Realistic glamour countering
Baron thinks, "My, what a graceful naga. That's my kind of snake."
Nidhogg thinks, "Even for an elf, he's got that special something. Good for him."
See, since Baron is awesome and Nidhogg are awesome(graceful, etc., not awesome in a cocky way), it raises their respective bars for being awed and inspired and such.