[so he does have a last name. palamedes sextus, he makes a point of committing that to memory so something good comes from this party and not just a sore back tomorrow.]

Ah, I'm afraid I can't offer that- after all, I am neither publicly accountable and you did bribe me with leaf water. Far too biased for testimonial. [academic publication jokes are fun and totally something accessible to everyone. it has him smiling though.

though he does blink at being frankly asked such a personal thing. well, personal to the guilty, which he supposes he is on at least one glaring account, even if that wasn't what was on his paper. he's still baffled by that. ] You may, though only if you're willing to speak of your own. It would hardly do if we cannot compare notes.

[and he's curious, he'll admit, about all of it. it's actually rather refreshing to have it candidly asked.]