[He laughs at that, a full-bodied guffaw that strains his still bruised ribs just a bit and leaves him to wheeze for a moment at the tail end.]

No, no, don't work at it too hard. Sorry, it wasn't meant to be judgmental. It's just that you're so knowledgeable and still so young. I'm thirty-fiv- no, thirty-six now - practically an old man - and I don't think what I know holds a candle to your expertise.

[He falls back into gentle smile, a bit admiring. He's only known her for a short time, but hearing this, he finds he's proud.]