[There's a beat of silence—one that's a little longer this time—as he says that, and Ilsa slips her hands into her pockets and keeps her eyes forward as she hums in acknowledgement. Their footsteps and Valo's little whines fill that silence while she thinks back on everything for a moment before she finally breaks it with a sigh.]

I was, too. I value what we have, and I spent that week worrying that we would lose it. In a situation like ours, having something familiar is helpful. Hah. Maybe that's why I was drawn to you at the masquerade.