[ Oh, what a thing to reiterate to someone who doesn't even trust himself anymore. The words make his stomach twist, not altogether unpleasantly. It's not the sort of reassurance he expects from a new connection, least of all after a heavy conservation.

He ducks his head, just for a moment, before mustering a response. ]

You can't just look at me with those big, heterochromatic eyes of yours and say that, Markus. [ some light teasing makes for an easy route away from #sincerity. ] I'll be too flustered for our chats.

[ still nice to allow the seriousness of their meeting to fall away and enjoy a walk across the park. ]