"You had to know I'd ask, sooner or later, and you initiated this exchange, hissy-kissy." Vaduin resettled my arms across his chest with a disgruntled sound. "Pulling out the greatsword, are we?" he asked. The words were a little shaky, but he took my offering of a way out of the grief, stepping into playfulness with me. "Ooh, is that one a winner?" I asked, keeping my tone light. "Yes," he said softly. He exhaled through his nose, almost a sigh. "I appreciate that you don't… weep over me. Surviving has been difficult enough without an invitation to break."
