"I am proud of you." Essek murmurs as he entwines his fingers with Caleb's. It was hard, oh he knew how hard it was to led go of that line of possibility-- to see it burned to nothing; if it was an avenue that they wanted to further pursue then they had scrolls, books and records with which to research further. But the temptation was laid to rest.

More importantly, he was proud of them.

The drow then lifts Caleb's hand to his lips and presses a soft kiss against the warmth of fingertips, as if he is uttering a secret that was meant only for the transmutation wizard. And his heart felt close to constricting, by the wealth of emotions that lay within him for this man. Certainly time had only served to strengthen that warmth, instead of diminishing it.

Whatever was in that T-Dock held not the sway that this energy that lay between them did. And if he'd a choice presented to him, he'd choose those intense cerulean blue eyes every single time, unfailingly. "I am wondering though.." he tried to bring some levity to the situation as he tugged Caleb in a bit closer, "How appropriate it is to kiss one's... dear friend.. in ruins forgotten by time? Care to cast scholarly weight to this, Caleb Widogast?"