There was a comfortableness in the air with Briseis there, carrying on in a very nonchalant way. It took his mind away, letting him settle on the simpler things. Their relationship now was far less stressed, and perhaps that had something to do with him keeping his attentions on other things. He laughed lightly at her "Precocious woman," he said in a teasing tone.
At her next question he sighed, flexing one of his hands, looking at those red knuckles, his attentions on uncovering the rest of the containers of food. "Tempering my emotions," he said lightly. Which meant he'd allowed that temper to unleash.