[He turns his head to keep more of Ed out of his blindspot, his grin quietly folding in on itself as Ed lavishes him with more support and generosity than he has seen from the entire city. He touches a knuckle to the corner of his good eye, a tinge embarrassed at how raw and easily moved to tears he still is on a morning where everything has gone his way. How lucky it is, to have a friend in a true renaissance man.]

While the enthusiasm is appreciated, I think it's best I start small and work my way up.

[He sniffs, his gaze turning inward.]

This check up that you're proposing... [he begins after a while, looking away] ...how long would it take?

[The idea of being looked over by someone he trusted - someone who had proved himself more than capable of nursing him back to health after finding him in the woods, drenched in blood and shock-sweat - is only marginally less uncomfortable than submitting to an actual doctor's poking and prodding.

But he'll take it.]