"'Course I've built him up... he raised you!" He hopped off the hand and went to gather up the ribboning dragon, who gave a soft squeal as she wound herself up around his neck and shoulders.

"How could I not? Hell, I wouldn't even know what to ask... s-stories, I guess? But I wanna be able to have, y'know, somethin' to talk about should we meet back home and he burns laser holes into me for dating his granddaughter."

He paused, paled. "Oh god, do the Shirogane Laser Eyes get stronger with age? Am I dead?"