"I told Veth I would be gone for a bit, so there is time. They tend to leave me be when I am doing wizard things." His smile turns more than a little smug, blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "To them it is all studying and copying and arcane jargon. Very boring."

His throat bobs as he swallows, sensitive to the brush of fingers along his cheek, skin prickling. His beard is much thicker than the last time they'd done this, fuller but softer than the short stubble Yussa had experienced before.

He wasn't really expecting this to happen tonight, but he did hope, maybe. At the very least, he wanted to talk about it--but doing is better than talking. Sitting close together, his hand covers Yussa's knee, warm and rough against several layers of fine fabric. He takes in the other man's fine features with a warm but intense interest, unconcealed.

"So if you want to keep me a little longer...I can easily make excuses."