"I wouldn't say stroked," he said with a slightly embarrassed little head duck. "But from a woman I trust not to lie to spare my feelings? I consider it more...educational. Like a status report on how I'm holding up." He shifted to lean on the railing and more fully face her. He felt good today, and he couldn't put his finger on why. Maybe it was the nice weather, which hadn't quite reached boiling yet that day. Or the fact that he'd been without any real life stressers for awhile now. Being stuck here did have it's perks after all. But he thought it was probably more to do with the company he was keeping than anything else.
"I'd be happy to return the favor of course," he said with a perfect boy scout smile.