The food residue on his shoulder notwithstanding, Gaelio takes in the comforting touch of McGillis' sure grip (though his features crinkle at the reminder of his current presentation). He hopes that, if anyone else is around, it's someone he'd be glad to see.

"It's not that I'm worried," he waves his arms to emphasize, "but now that you mention it, anyone could be here." Even Almiria, he thinks, as lousy as that would be: She's hardly suited for this kind of environment. "Personally, I'd prefer that it just be the two of us."

His next breath comes and goes with audible mirth. "When I last saw you, you were on vacation. Yet here you are now, on business as usual. Is there a more dedicated workaholic in this world?"