And, as always when in unspoken agreement on the roles he and his audience shall play, Bagoas prefers coming to a memorable end. He ends with a swivel of his hips, half turning on his heel to be fully facing his most recent acquaintance - and with a final bit of flair (known far and wide as 'showing off'), his ribcage lifts, his belly lowers as if completely separate entities - and shik shak shok, his belt chimes the end.

Let it never be said that Bagoas of Susa is modest in all things.

Nevertheless, his performance is over; the spell is broken, and taking its place is a brilliant smile. "Thank you kindly," he says, lifting one of the cups to his lips so as to give the flickering candlelight a puff of air. Time to sleep, little tea candles, until next his fancy strikes.

Slitting his eyes Horst's way, his smile takes on a more knowing quality - a personal amusement from the past, perhaps - and he ducks his head in polite acceptance of such observation.

"I am beyond content having an audience of one, my lord, if it be half as appreciative as yourself."

One can have such a giving exchange between two pairs of eyes, but something niggles at the back of Bagoas' head. He has been happened upon too many times not to see the difference here. The question is rather how to broach the topic, and how to gauge the context properly. Their last (and first) encounter didn't exactly end on a pleasing note.

More's the pity, and it serves as incentive to make sure this meeting does (even if he dislikes feeling indebted to someone with a passion, he can disregard those impulses like any true professional). "It is good to see you again..." He averts his eye, going from one candle holder to the next.

"I would say I hope it is not by clement happenstance, but I should not speak out of turn."