"No, it means at least one of us will remember the way home," he called with a bright laugh, disappearing for a moment as he went to the kitchen to grab the drinks. He came back with a bottle of beer for himself and a bottle of water for Mal, pressing it into his hand.

He looked up at him and pursed his lips the tiniest bit, reaching up and raking his fingers through the more studious man's hair. He nodded after a second, pleased.

"Just relax," he said softly to him. "You look good, and you're not terrible at conversation. I'm not going to throw you in the deep end and bail."