"I really should stop setting myself up for it," Dorian replied wryly, taking another long sip of the wine. "This is also nearly as terrible but at least it's drinkable."

It was easy enough to be friendly when they weren't talking about home and Dorian wasn't constantly reminded. Like this, he could just pretend Maxwell was another new face - treat him as friendly as he did everyone else, before he made up his mind about them.

This - this was better. This was alright.

For now.