[It's not the first time he's seen her smile, though they are certainly rare, he's noticed— but just like every other time he's had occasion to see it, he feels as though the room itself is brighter for it. For him, a smile was hardly out of place, but for someone who was so severe, so focused on being taken seriously, it meant that much more. It feels earned, somehow, and he cannot help but smile back, feeling significantly lighter than he might have expected, given all that he had shared.]

Oh, I wouldn't miss that opportunity for the world. There's always plenty of gossip to go around, and we've both kept busy enough that we're due to catch up. Besides, it's only two.

[Two strong drinks after a challenging day, but he doesn't allow himself to remind her of what he'd still been capable of after a few more— he chides himself for even thinking of it.

In another world, maybe, things would have gone differently. He would have still had the confidence of his younger self, the assuredness to say how he really felt about the situation rather than defer to her judgement, but he had, over time, almost convinced himself that this was better. Surely, their friendship held greater value.]

Now— I haven't overheard enough to be certain, but I think there's some sort of betting pool among some of the teachers in the lounge. I swear I overheard Professor Blurg mentioning odds.