[If anyone had told him that he would be having a conversation with Sleipnir that he was actually enjoying, he would have flat out called them a liar. This, though? This is different. It isn't at all what he expected. The man next to him was thoughtful, inquisitive, and attentive. Maybe that's what Clive gets for making assumptions.]

You have a very poetic way of speaking.

[Clive takes a sip of wine to think about how he is going to phrase 'sometimes he should just spit it out' without being too rude.]

It is pretty impressive, yeah. Sometimes I think he could benefit from being maybe a little less impressive. Might make communicating with people a bit easier for him.

[Clive tilts his head ever so slightly while watching Sleipnir stumble, the intensity of his gaze never wavering. Was he... shy? Nervous? Clive couldn't quite put his finger on it and he definitely did not want to find it charming.]

Ah, I get it. Your experiences with sex and mine sound like they have been very different.

[Clive takes another long sip of wine, before staring off over Sleipnir's shoulder at nothing in particular.]

Sex has never been intimate for me. Just a means to an end.

[Clive turns his gaze back to Sleipnir's. There is something different about it, something farther away.]

Went from being Branded to being too busy.