[ well, he's had over a thousand years to learn the fine art of piecing together his words. what she can't hope to achieve, he's spent centuries learning from the countless nobles and rich folk that he's stayed with. ah, but he's not too fond of nobles, shh.......

but he listens to her speak, as she introduces herself, and throughout it all, he can't help but to smile and to laugh, ever so gently, the back of his hand pressed lightly against his mouth. while his request had been just as sincere, he knew what he was doing, with his word choice and phrasing...

he's not laughing at her, by any means — he just finds her purity to be refreshing; it reminds him of a child's, and tsurumaru is always inclined to have more faith in children than in adults, and it distracts him from his sadder thoughts. ]

You're an interesting person, Lili... Do you know that?

[ it's rare to find people as sincere as this, given that he's seen enough of humanity to be convinced that most of them are thoroughly rotten inside.

but he's swift about his answer, because it'll certainly be enough — what she can do for him, with all of who she is, will suffice. ]

Of course I'll accept it.

I don't know what I can give you in return, though — a lifetime's knowledge of surprises? Or, maybe some cakes that I saw in a store a few days ago...