[ aha.. the first part has him smile a little, expression warming up with fondness. ]

...I'm not surprised - and we'd be happy to have you. Believe it or not, I offered a similar invitation to Gideon, too.

[ it's a qiming party!!! but, beyond that, he listens to everything thancred has to say, gently pressing his thumbs against his glass, stroking through the condensations for the sake of something to do with his hands, for the feeling of cold as something grounding. ]

I'd like it if you put that energy towards solving it instead of throwing yourself onto the closest stake....but, I get it. [ it's more facetious than anything else - not a real scold or a point against thancred, or anything. ] I think putting that same energy towards finding the truth so neither of you have to die for no reason is ideal. I know it's not always possible, but... well. I won't lecture you.

[ he huffs, and then, has a more familiar lu bixing smile, soft and genuine, sad. ] ...I'm sorry that you've had to lose so much, to have to build up that kind of tolerance, Thancred.