And he looks at you as he would a friend. Sometimes they are more valuable than a romantic partner. More lasting, more worthwhile, more rare.

[ Oh lovely. She's leaking. At least she's someone that, while weeping, will explain why she is weeping with words he can understand, so that's a step up from dealing with a fussy Lucci. He takes the letter in one hand and loops his other arm around her shoulders, tugging her in gently. Reading while murmuring random soft comforts in Antivan (habit, now, from having the aforementioned fussy son) the furrow in his brow grows deeper and deeper. ]

There's a word Alistair has for when I change how I am to suit any one person or situation in particular. 'Crowing', because he knows it is something I learned while with the Crows. You, well. You learned bits of it on your own and the rest has come from me. Believe me when I say that it would cause nothing but mutual disappointment and distress were you to go through an entire relationship 'Crowing' with Alistair- or with anyone.