'Are you?'

The words come out slow and intrigued, vowels dragging lazily against the back of his throat in what is nearly a purr. 'Good, good. You've, mm, horrors enough, it seems.'

This room is pleasantly lit with a fire in a grate in the far wall, and the light of it sparks like embers in his eyes, flashing off his spectacles. His head drops a little to one side, idle smile at his lips.

'Come here, hmm?'