[ Bites are -- a whole thing. And she wants to get into that, but this is very much not the time. It would be the most distracting conversation possible, even if she didn't intend for it to be (and she sort of does, she can't talk about biting in a casual way, it's just not how that works). ]

[ Also hmm, don't love that about the feeling strained. But also not going there. ]

Is there any way to gauge the time other than the clock and your energy level? Or letting down your barrier, I guess. ...Which I'd be willing to do rather than exhaust you. I'm ready for them.