[ That sentiment has a little too much personal resonance with Baldr. He reaches for his own cup of tea to hide the slight moment of pause. ]

You're quite the hard worker. I'll have to be sure you don't leave me behind. ...But I hope you remember not to overdo things too much. That smile alone is inspiration enough, you know.

[ He takes an absentminded sip of the tea before he puts the cup down to reach for the papers. No need to jump right into work, but he may as well bring the initial notes to the top. ]

Is this the first time you've traveled so much, by any chance? I wondered, when you mentioned your reading.

[ Not that every bookworm he knows is sedentary, but it's difficult to bring a large library on the road. And she has a certain bubbly enthusiasm that makes him wonder if much of this is new to her. ]