Valerian did not have a glass to raise in return—but he really ought to, because now he was beginning to feel a little insecure and it irked him—so instead he offered a smile and a nod in solidarity. He liked Arthur; it was hard not to like someone who, for much of his childhood, had exuded the confidence and friendliness that he'd tried and failed to manage himself, because it was difficult to make a lot of cool friends when he was so involved in his weird intellectual niches.

"By all means, then," he said, motioning to the rest of the room with his hand, "Lead the way." He could go for a tour, especially since none of his friends had given him enough of a though to offer.

---