[ There had been a part of him that had wanted to turn him away, to shun him for the grief he had caused - the frustration, the hours of wondering, the distraction across the days of his absence. He should be more annoyed than he is, a burning anger inside of him, but the dominant emotion remains relief, a quiet joy that he knows something that he cares about - someone that he cares about - has come out of "death" somehow.

The door shuts behind Aventurine, and Ratio follows him into his home, welcoming him to the esteemed world of the Doctor himself. It feels strange, to have someone else inside there, to have another figure wandering around his realm, but he has no choice now.

He is too glad to see him.

Walking back over to his desk, he leans against it and allows his arms to cross over his body, frowning as he shakes his head. ]

You did not come here to critique my design choices. Did you come here with the intention of explaining, or do I have to force it out of you?

[ Unfortunately, Ratio is not inclined to give him that kind of leeway. ]