"Alright, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound--" he starts and realises that he's responding to something Kai might have felt for a moment there and then snorts softly. "I mean, I was just surprised."

He draws in a breath and tries to focus. "It's a part of our culture that sort of belongs to it as solidly as one could say marriage or friendship. It's just a unique relationship the way love is different from friendship, the Ceangal is different from both of those. It comes with some expectations, I suppose, those are more mythological in nature and definitely not believed by all. If you're bonded with someone, the mythology says that you're destined for great things. However, there's also the more down to earth view on it as just a mental link that two people will share."

Marco straightens gently the hem of Kai's shirt, he's not really eager to step away from him. He feels suddenly clearheaded in a way that he hasn't felt for a long, long time.

"I will find some literature for you. But in short, we're supposed to stick together and it seems I will be acting as your shield. So whenever this extra awareness that has been forced upon you gets too much, you'll find some quiet and calm around me. Once I figure out how this is supposed to work, we probably can expand the distance between us."