[The word 'friend' brings Neuvillette up a bit short, for equal and opposite reasons. He can hardly call the young man from Vahumana a friend - an ally, certainly, but thus far, the relationship is purely professional. 'Friend,' at this point, would be a reach too far.

And Furina, on the other hand... 'Friend' is inadequate, like surrounding their surroundings as 'damp.' Their relationship is too deep and complex for so simple a word, and yet it is difficult to bring any other to mind.]

A bit quick-to-draw on that description, perhaps - one is a scholar I know only by reputation, and vice-versa. I wouldn't want to seem as though I were taking liberties.

[That's the easier one to speak of. He leaves the other hanging in the air, humid, just shy of the dew point, unspoken.]