[ Very well-received teasing, at that. Maruki's smile only widens, heat crawling up the back of his neck. Pleasant shyness, no unbearable fluster here. Not yet, anyway – it's difficult, now, with how comfortable he is around Venat, but certainly not impossible.

But as ever, he's almost irritatingly earnest. ]

I wasn't lying when I said this was meant as an opportunity to comfort you as much as it is to woo you. I want to hear about how you're feeling, Venat. I always do.

[ Guilt and grief are old bedfellows of his too, after all. Their circumstances couldn't be more different, but he's keenly aware of how difficult it must be with someone from her past like Lahabrea now present. ]

And then, if I can take your mind off of it afterwards, all the better.

[ Local man might actually give his Ancient girlfriend what is probably her first kiss? MAYBE?? Time will tell. ]