El-Melloi II wasn't about to put down that level of surprising seriousness for such a light topic. But well, Roman did not know his kids or what it was like to deal with them day in and day out. "I don't know if trust is the right word," he said, the exhaustion in his voice a contrast with the approval in Roman's. El-Melloi II would never consider himself approachable, he spent so much time dodging people, places, and engagements in order to have his time alone. "It does intrude on my privacy at times though."

Privacy meaning time at home to sit around and play video games, but only Gray knew that particular code. She was on a much needed break today anyway, El-Melloi II had insisted on it. The girl worked too hard, and Waver was always aware of that fact.

"No, you're right about the goals and even the method," El-Melloi II agreed. "But the medical field strikes me as something that is focused on reality far more than magecraft ever will be, and has a greater impact on daily lives. You come into a world where people talk about a mystical Root, family secrets that are centuries old, magic circuits, and all of this stuff that may as well be out of some novel, and it's rarely put to much use outside of a small circle."

Magi lived in bubbles. That much was a truth.

"Mmm, and what you're describing also costs mill...ah, no wonder today's meeting is probably going to be long," El-Melloi said with the satisifaction of someone who just figured out what was really going on. Rather than dwell on money (never fun), El-Melloi II kept pace with Roman's description. "You really shouldn't be sharing that kind of classified information, trusting or not. It would inspire someone to ask questions like about collaborative partners, or else other specifics that you shouldn't share."

He was curious now, goddamnit.