"Change. Whether it will be a singular exception, or a new rule does not matter. The change is here, and it is real. The question is, it is only in your position, or in your whole group?" Maalech seemed thoughtful, but refrained from asking for more information. He would not ask her for more than she would give. He could be patient.

If his theories were correct it would show soon enough.

"You said, once upon a time that you sought a change in how things were. I remember cautioning you that change always had consequences, not all of them pleasant. Would you go back to how things were if given the chance?"

She shot him an odd, sudden, suspicious look: it was exactly as if she was tracking the motion of something quick, unexpected, passing through the air between them; her eyes actually shifting from left to right as if noting the arch. "Going back to the way things were would be simpler, if a lot less satisfying. No new rules to learn, for starters. I suppose it isn't exactly a good thing to wish you were ignorant. Innocent, maybe."

"I was never innocent." Maalech shook his head, pondering the change in her outlook. Suspicion? Most likely, he was aware of her limited capacity for picking up thoughts after all. And he had his own theory on how deep it went. "Innocence usually stems from either the lack of age, experience or simply from deeply ingrained stupidity. Even at a young age I had seen too much to consider myself such."

He looked down at his hands, flexing them a bit "I do assume that the issue at hand is that rather than my innocence you would find it simpler had I less baggage." At times he wished the same.

"I meant me too," she corrected. "It's one of those moments where I wish I didn't know any better." She shrugged. "Come on, we're doing that thing where I don't think we know if we're discussing metaphysics or romantics. I'm going to get called out of here momentarily. This was supposed to be a short check-in."

"In my defense I am more skilled with metaphysics than with romantics." Maalech nodded slowly in acquiescence. "I am glade you choose to visit all the same. I will admit to being a bit worried considering the stakes."

Stakes. They all had them.

He paused for a moment, then reached out to put a hand on her shoulder, and if she would allow it, lean in and kiss her. He should have done it sooner.

As always he realized he was terrible at these things.

Rather than kissing him back, she put her arms around his waist and gave him a solid, tight hug. Somehow it seemed to be more in line with what they both needed. "Maybe you're not terrible at it," she said. "Maybe you just need the practise."

"Other things always seemed more important." Maalech hugged her back, harder than he had planned. It always amazed him that such a little thing as physical contact could have such a profound effect on the senses. "And my marriage was not exactly what would be considered normal by most standards."

Once she let go, he pulled away, looking intently at her as if to memorize every detail until her next visit. "Do be careful."