[Oh good. Not that it really cuts down on the fussing over people that much, but it helps a little.]
[It's probably obvious enough, from the way that statement makes him sit even more stiffly than usual, and how interesting he's finding his hands and the newspaper in them. And he looks about as uncomfortable as he did at the start of this conversation, if not more so.]
... [He'd say no, but even just thinking it, it feels like his mouth won't work. It takes a few more long moments, but he finally speaks.] ... Yeah.