[ He'll look so painfully young in that moment when he feels the way you reach out and touch him. He's missed this, and he hasn't given himself any time to really allow himself to miss it.

Swallowing, willing himself to calm down. Then, once he finally does just a little (it takes much longer than it should), taking a drag from the pipe. Then another. ]

You approved the request. You know about Brianna already, and what I've allowed her to do.

[ Besides, even before you were ever the Magistrate of Seigi or the Lady of the Night, nothing in Zangyaku ever escaped your notice. At least not after your first and only fall. ]

Josh and I talked about her.