[ it's too loud here and there's too much going on, and it has thistle's nerves on edge. he's overstimulated and disturbed and uncomfortable, and he hates that those are the emotions dominating him while he's asking this very important, maybe life-changing thing of julian. he wants this to be a positive thing, because julian is important to him, but he can't seem to push the tension out of his shoulders or smooth the line between his brows.

he takes a deep breath, releases it carefully, and his hands slide down to the older man's, squeezing them once. he uses his grip on them to gently draw him away from the bar. if the doctor lets him, he'll take him outside entirely, where it's quiet. ]

Are you saying that of course you'd like that because you think that's what I want to hear, or are you saying of course you'd like that because.. you'd really like that? [ not for the first time, he curses his white skin, which is starting to flush over the course of this conversation. gods! sex and romance are one thing, but-- this is something else entirely. something he was expecting to have more time to consider, to decide his thoughts on.

and then finally his expression twists into wry, fond amusement. ] If there's anything that I know about you, Doctor Julian Devorak, it's that when left to your own devices, you wind up.. crashing theater troupes and-- and dueling pirates and all sorts of mischief.