Having determined that he must take greater care to understand the mannerisms of others, Constans set about this new endeavor immediately. He watched the two women before him with burgeoning curiosity, his concern that he had been in error quickly dissolving in light of this potential learning experience. How, for example, could this gesture that Thais made be defined, brushing his arm and stepping close to him while she spoke to another person? Searching for a frame of reference, he recalled being reprimanded by his brother for a lack of spacial boundaries. Standing very close to another person was not acceptable. There was... more however, an exception to the rule. His memory showed that it was acceptable to perform such a gesture as an indication of intimacy between two people. Therefore Enchanter Thais, Constans determined with a degree of surprise, must have an incorrect impression of the relationship between them.
He could understand this. There was an existing precedent. She had even recently called him "friend," a descriptor which seemed to have other meanings when spoken by women. Perhaps it would be possible to explain this mistake to the Enchanter, to cause her to understand that what she did not perceive as inappropriate behavior was so merely because it was misplaced.
He cocked his head at Bethen faintly when addressed, having been quite absorbed in his analysis. The difference in his expression between 'perturbed' and 'fascinated' was so minor that he still managed to look faintly upset, despite 'upset' itself being entirely outside of his emotional vocabulary.
The choice of wording made her request illogical, but Constans sensed that this was not the moment to point out such an error.
"Bethen is correct," he began, shifting his mild stare back to Thais. "Your prior actions are not appropriate in the current circumstance."