[ David guiding his hand back to his leg affirms for Balthier that the earlier touch was very much well-received. It brings back that quieter, dreamier smile he only gets with David. He deeply enjoys this exchange of gentle touch and the back and forth of who guides who. There's a trust in it, and an attentiveness. He follows the prompt to feel the fabric -- which is nice -- but also takes the opportunity to splay his hand on David's very fit thigh.

At the explanation, though, he sighs and briefly shakes his head. ]

Sorry to hear our worlds share that kind of thinking. Though, I will say, you are very distracting regardless of what you're wearing.

[ He gives David's leg a playful squeeze and runs his hand up his high as he pulls his hand back to keep eating and watch the instructions. ]

You're going to make me blush with how much thought and energy you put into this evening.

[ He's grinning again. Part of him had wondered, after the first poem, if that had been it, the end of the game. It was part of why he hadn't reached back out, not that David hadn't been on his mind. He was relieved and delighted to realize David had been as preoccupied with their previous engagements as he had been, and moved that he'd acted on it so thoroughly. It was beautiful, to have someone manifest thinking about him that way. He'd wondered if he was being a fool for wanting to invest that energy in David; now he feels more confident that that energy won't be wasted or taken for granted. ]