Krem swirled the whiskey in his glass, tilting his head slightly into her touch. His eyes slipped closed, and he could feel his spine relax slowly.

"Well, I certainly wasn't hoping to muck things up. But I seem to be getting quite adept at sticking my foot in it," he said, trying for jovial and hitting the mark somewhat with how quietly he spoke. He took a sip of his drink. It burned down his chest slowly.

"I wanted to see you. I wanted to share your company for a while." He looked up at her, considered her for a moment. He gave her a soft, almost sheepish smile. "I might have briefly thought the whiskey might make me a more appealing candidate for a second chance in your room, or at least facilitate us laughing about what an awful, clumsy partner I make. That might have been a very foolish thought."