[ While Byerly mimes and then explains, Bastien’s face shifts from confused curiosity to a wide smile, and then his laugh is quiet but chest-deep. At least he’s not being silly alone.

Though it’s a somewhat different flavor of silliness: ]

When you said, before—when you said you weren’t sure that your heart was strong enough for one person and—

[ —other things. But imaginary memory potion or not, he’d rather toss himself down the stairs than use the word love right now, even just to quote Byerly and speak hypothetically. ]

Is that still what you think? It’s all right if it is. I decided it was all right before I said yes. I just…

[ He shrugs the shoulder Byerly’s wrapped under. Very self-assured, very collected. ]