Not really soft, right? [ That's the only part of all of this that he protests. Blood on his shirt: fine. Cold elf nose on his neck: all right. The rest of said elf taking up prolonged residence on his lap: kind of nice, not in a sexy way, just your run of the mill lifetime-of-starving-for-affection way, etc. But soft? ] Soft in the heart, I mean, sure. Maybe in the head. But otherwise rock solid and muscular and such. Right?

[ He isn't serious. He's perfectly aware of having to cinch his armor straps a little firmer around his sides and his belly and of the soft spot under his chin, and he knows he's handsome anyway. But if he's going to be an chair, he reserves the right to demand praise.

And ask personal questions. Like: ]

Hey, Zev, what was Rinna like? Can I ask that?