He quirked an eyebrow. "Now there's an incentive," he murmured, and kissed her back, tracing his thumb over the line of her jaw. "Anyroad, tell me if he says anything too stupid. I'll black his eye for you. Fuck knows he needs it sometimes." He was mostly joking. Mostly.

Straightening up, he pushed his hair back again, nodding to her. "Kitten. Nariko. Get her to smile. I'm on it." Another brief kiss, and he headed off into the crowd, darting through the press of dancers.

He was as good as his word, too. Nor did he waste any time; it was maybe half an hour at most before he knocked on Nariko's door, trying to balance a little ginger cat in one arm and stop it from batting at his hair.