[Whelk gives a quick raise of his eyebrows while taking another drag from his cigarette, then speaks while still holding back the smoke.]

You'd be surprised how many of them come from Latin. [He tilts his head upward, letting the smoke out above their heads as Kunimi did. When he lowers it again his eyes lock with the younger man's, lopsided smile enduring.] I'm pretty sure I heard you say my name too.

[He holds that gaze for a long moment, allowing the tension to build until it feels it might break - and then, of course, he breaks it, shrugging and turning a fraction of an angle away as he takes another drag. No need to let too much on at once. It's been a while, no doubt, since he's done this dance, but it seems he remembers how to rather well, and that is an extremely satisfying feeling.]

It's a language I have no experience with. That can't be said for a lot of them. [Subtle flex. He can read his way through most of the romance languages, and bullshit his way through reading a few others.]

It's as I've said. [A glance back at Kunimi.] I'm interested. [Take that as you will.]