Ah, but Drake has long pushed at Sanzo's boundaries. And everyone else's, really, within reason and once he knows how far he can push without adding to old traumas. It's what he does. This is the job of a kestra'chern, even with those who aren't -- strictly speaking -- clients.

Why else is Sanzo able to make contact semi-casually at all? A few years ago, he never reached out to others except in moments of extreme stress.

"Of course, ke'chara," Amberdrake is quite willing to play along, and doesn't react to that briefly-clenched hand at all. "It's still a novel offer, even so, and not something I would take for granted."