[His muscles tense instinctively at the touch but slowly relax into it, though he keeps his face looking forward across the room into some midspace he can't see.]

Even though I send you annoying messages early in the morning?

[Whistler then quietly shifts his head so that his ear brushes against the tops of her knuckles, appreciating the closeness]

Wondering about this might be pointless anyway. I don't even know if I'm actually still alive back home.