Stephen sends Viktor a look askance, an answering wryness in his own voice: “Did you just call me needy? You save a man once from ravenous plantlife and there’s simply no gratitude, I swear to god—”

But the crotchetiness is amiable and entirely affected, as they wend their way through the remainder of the flora and depart the ruins of the lecture hall and take their leave, albeit with a promise to later stay in touch with the frazzled professor and his entourage.

And this research probably won’t cause any further problems down the line. Right?