[ You know what owls look like, Steinbeck? Do they have owls anywhere in the Quad? Well, if they do, the look Royce turns on him might feel familiar. There's a wispy remnant of tobacco in the air, but Royce is, rarely, not actually smoking. Too much risk involved, equipment too sensitive, and it's weird because he always wants to like there's no problem with it at all. But there is. Hm. ]

Oh, now, I wouldn't go quite that far... But it's true that my work demands constant focus. Constant focus. Quite a bit of it, if I'm being completely honest, in fact. And distractions are...

[ The openness of it, the mild humor... for a brief overlapping moment they don't really match the intensity of his gaze at all. ]

Nnnnot. Affordable.

Under most circumstances.

[ After a moment he straightens and swivels to face Steinbeck fully. Definitely healthier than he remembers. ]

But—more—to the point, you, you're looking. Quite, quite a bit better than the last time we met. Quiiite a bit better.