[ Tech Boy looks toward his hands and K decides he may as well provide him with something worth watching, finally acting on the impulse to finish unfastening his pants for him — and intentionally makes a show of it, skirting the boundaries of suggestive implication. Inexperienced as he is, he's also observant. Tech Boy seems to appreciate this kind of personal attention.

Not wanting to give the impression he isn't interested in the answer to his question, though, he leaves it at that for the moment, afterward reaching up to begin working on the layers of shirts he still has to contend with before Tech Boy will be bare enough for his liking. He's taking his time with it, gently pulling the vape away so he can peel one sleeve down and off of Tech Boy's arm before handing the vape back to him. ]

Favours are useful... and smart. Adaptable to suit your needs.

[ Favours aren't so bad. Rather, aren't as bad as some of the possibilities he'd been entertaining — not that he thinks poorly of Tech Boy. But he does in fact have an idea of how brutal war is, regardless of who's involved or what the stakes are. It's an ugly business. ]

But if they don't know what you'll one day require of them, I can also understand why some gods may be hesitant to agree to those terms. [ He pauses, watching the smoke as it drifts upward. ] I would be, if I didn't know you as well as I do. And I imagine I may not stand to lose as much as a god could, even if I can theoretically live as long as you do.

[ Because there are far worse things than dying, he feels. He tilts his head, watching Tech Boy now. ]

If it were possible to choose, would you return to your homeworld and this war?