The words she was using didn't make it sound particularly appealing, but there was something about her tone that made it obvious she enjoyed the work. It was probably the same way he talked about something as trivial as taking soundings, he realized. Maybe that was why it was so easy to talk to her; she was just as passionate about something as he was, and it was something that made just as little sense to the rest of the civilized world.

"Thrilling," he joked with a wry smile. "Perhaps you'll get a chance to show me someday, too." There was no promise that an expedition, even if she did accompany them, would provide an opportunity for doing archaeology digs, but there was supposed to be some sort of potential for scientific discovery on expeditions. That was the entire point of bringing along all the botanists, magizoologists, naturalists, and the like.

The proximity between the two of them was untenable; he had to do something about it. If he stayed here he was going to end up touching her sooner or later, and he shouldn't do that. Unfortunately the only excuse to move that came to mind was to go and fetch a drink, which meant he was introducing alcohol into their little rendezvous sooner than he probably should. "I got beer, as promised," he said, turning away from her to head towards the kitchen. "Do you want a glass, or just the bottle?"