Duck Lake are you worth your weight in gold, cause you're behind my eyelids when i'm all alone

alarian smiled twice, brightening more with the last. mahler turned, aligning himself toward the cherub and allowing the worry to ebb in a small way from his regard of the boy. the words that came then were more inviting, perhaps rougish in a way — mahler welcomed them for their direct reflection of alarian's improving mood.
rolling his dappled shoulders in an exaggerated show of ignorance, the musiker peered at his companion with an expectant expression. what animal, what creature, might the governor see in him? though his elation was not readily apparent, mahler had found a deep enjoyment in this game of little subtleties.