"That's not ominous." He snorts. "But if it's not relevant, it's not relevant. I'm not going to fuss when we have far more pressing concerns—though you have to admit it's really only another chance for me on your end. I was doing fine on mine."

He flashes a crooked smile, just the corner of his lip kicked up, and lets the moment of levity bleed away his frustration, though he quickly sobers.

"But this place." He's watching Xichen again, because the small silences and fidgets worry him as much as all of the words that have come out of his mouth. A future that Mingjue's might never see ranks far, far below the man sitting in front of him in distress. His own fingers twitch, and he gives in, reaching out to put a hand on Xichen's arm. "How long have you been here?"