[ it is indeed something tseng already knows, but he appreciates the reassurance anyway. it makes him smile slightly, squeezing her fingers where they're wrapped in his own. ]

It was more difficult at the start, [ tseng admits with a wry expression. ] Rufus and I... The President and I have a complicated relationship to begin with.

[ he pauses, not like he's done speaking but like he's mulling over how to phrase the things he wants to say. tseng has never spoken of rufus to anyone here, and he isn't entirely sure how to encapsulate all the things he wants to express. ]

Maybe it's strange, [ is what he finally settles on, ] but in some ways I feel that being away from home made things easier. I hope that will be the case for you and Neuvilette as well.