I'm kind of startled Marvelous offers any sympathy, or at least a shrug of an attempt toward it. I sure wasn't looking for it - but he's responding like I'm a person, worth offering sympathy toward.

It's consistent with what I know of him so far. And kind of cute. In a naive way.

"I was just explaining why something like me has equipment like this." It'll make my knot twinge again, but I roll against him anyway, rubbing my cheekbone up and down the nubs of his spine at his neck. "You're going to be here a while, in case you hadn't figured that out yet." I'm grinning, though he can probably hear it in my voice better than see it from the corner of his eye.

"I'd ask if you minded, but...it's not like that matters anyway." I'm chuckling against his skin, licking up the salt from his sweat when I taste it at the corner of my lips.