Bastien stands when Byerly does, tips his chin in greeting when he's identified, and—
He doesn't love her, instantly, the way Byerly loved his cadre of siblings and their children. He's a colder thing than Byerly is. But he does like her instantly. Her chewed nails and chewed cheek and nervous hands. The effort in her hair. And most of all offer to fetch the mead herself instead of calling in someone to do it.
He doesn't return Byerly's look; these kind of nerves, and she might take a silent exchange of glances the wrong way entirely. He catches it peripherally, though, and begins speaking so immediately that it might seem as if he's the kind of chatty fellow who'd have piped up even if Byerly weren't helplessly silent first.
"I will not think any less of Gwaren if we don't," he says. "Sea voyages always make me a little sick of the sun. The sun and the wind, and the whole time you are rationing water even though you are surrounded by it. I shrivel like a fig—so I would love some water, actually, if that is an option, and," at the end of this one-breath deluge, "it's lovely to finally meet you, Madame. Byerly has said so many good things."
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He doesn't love her, instantly, the way Byerly loved his cadre of siblings and their children. He's a colder thing than Byerly is. But he does like her instantly. Her chewed nails and chewed cheek and nervous hands. The effort in her hair. And most of all offer to fetch the mead herself instead of calling in someone to do it.
He doesn't return Byerly's look; these kind of nerves, and she might take a silent exchange of glances the wrong way entirely. He catches it peripherally, though, and begins speaking so immediately that it might seem as if he's the kind of chatty fellow who'd have piped up even if Byerly weren't helplessly silent first.
"I will not think any less of Gwaren if we don't," he says. "Sea voyages always make me a little sick of the sun. The sun and the wind, and the whole time you are rationing water even though you are surrounded by it. I shrivel like a fig—so I would love some water, actually, if that is an option, and," at the end of this one-breath deluge, "it's lovely to finally meet you, Madame. Byerly has said so many good things."