"Of course," Autor says, inclining his head and turning to his already-prepped kettle. He'd once told her that her citrus-lavender tea was her blend for calming down and thinking about something, but also her fallback for when things go to hell. They certainly have at that.

His eyes widen slightly at the veil, and he makes a small squeak of surprise. "That's quite clever," he says, poking it. "Consider me envious of your abilities, again."

Nimble fingers assemble her tea ball, and he drapes the chain across the rim of a cup with a golden rim. He adds steaming hot water, and dips the ball in a 3/4th rhythm, thinking. "So, to answer your question... You're going to think me ridiculously stupid--more so than you already do," he says, keeping his gaze locked to the tea, "but I... I wanted to find out why he was leaving me alone."