Vaguely offended but unruffled was more or less how Kash did everything, so Vax didn't read into that too deeply.

"...Cashew, you old softie." If bringing Steph to this dinner wasn't proof he was trying to not be alone for what was left of his likely short little life in this strange place, Vax didn't know what was. But Kashaw's approval was certainly a truer vote of confidence than he'd got from Percy. "If you try to kiss this one, I'm going to start taking it personally."