[ His brow furrows as she speaks, gaze still focused downward. It's a long moment before he answers, not because he's confused, but rather that he'd prefer not to stumble so much over his words this time. ]

It doesn't bother me, not really. [ Not, for the most part, so long as there won't be any hurt feelings for Ilde when she wakes up. He doesn't want to explain part of his hesitance, how he comes from a place where things work differently. It's a tired excuse. He's been in Concordia long enough to have become aware that the social courtesies and rules he's known all his life are considered old-fashioned by most here, and that includes the rest of the folks in the Nest. Doesn't mean he's ready to jump feet first into the new world, but it lessens the shock of seeing certain types of relationships carried out so openly. Makes it so he can drink a little more than he might usually, and accept a kiss from two different woman on this alien holiday: one a kind stranger, and one a friend.

Another pause, and he lifts his eyes, offering her a lopsided smile with the same warmth from before, if somewhat sheepish now. ] I guess... it's that I haven't thought about this sorta thing in a while. [ Being close to someone. A light snort, and his gaze travels to some empty spot over her shoulder. ] And now I guess I'm thinking about it too much.

[ And talking too much, most likely. ]