Tamlin heard the words and regretted them-- they hadn't been meant poorly, but he knew how it could be taken, would be understood.  Yes, he had expected someone vicious, bitter and angry, someone who would treat him with indifference at best or so much worse...  But so far Ranuk had been, well, different.  Very different.<br/><br/>He watched Ranuk stir, eventually opening an eye to gaze at the prince; whatever the demon was thinking, Tamlin couldn't tell.  He was more than a little drunk, and Ranuk's unfamiliar face was too hard to read.  All he could do was hope Ranuk understood, wasn't upset...<br/><br/>Tamlin wasn't calling Ranuk a beast: he was relieved to find the demon actually approachable, at least so far in the little time they'd spent together, and that boded well for the rest of their relationship.  If they were to make this successful, whether or not it was something beyond the confines of political strategy, then Tamlin would take what he could get and do his best to cooperate, to learn and grow... and from what he had seen so far, perhaps Ranuk would be willing to do the same.<br/><br/>The other curled his tails lazily, thinking on Tamlin's comment, and then replied.  It made the prince smile, a lopsided and soft expression on his dark face, and he let out a quiet laugh as he nodded his head, a golden braid slipping over his shoulder with the breeze.  "Ah, well, I hope that's not a terrible thing..."<br/><br/>Tamlin might not be like Naviin, like most of the people filled with hate or fear, but he was an elf and had grown up surrounded by so much prejudice; it was hard to fight, hard to keep in check, but he hoped not to let it color his perspective, especially in this.  This was his life now, and he needed to care for it, to help it thrive...<br/><br/>"I hope, perhaps, we both can be more than what we expect.  And what's expected of us."  The thought was a murmur, Tamlin's gaze on the silvery, pale face of the moon perched between the black, craggy shapes of the mountains.  He still held the tiny grass square in his hand, turning it over between his fingers in contemplation.  Finally he glanced back at Ranuk and offered him another smile, small and shy.<br/><br/>"I like demon dancing, and the music...  It's freeing.  Thank you for letting me experience it."