[By the time Petrana joins Julius on the other side of the desk, Cassius' crooked smile has curved farther into something marginally more pleasant and rather less overtly waggish. He isn't a beast.]

Yes, Riftwatch is charmingly intimate in its way. It rather reminds me of one of those sweet little farmhouses you always see painted distantly into landscapes.

[He tips his head and his attention toward Petrana.]

It seems I know all about how our friend Julius was washed up here. I hope you haven't subjected yourself to this dreadful island entirely on his behalf?