"And when you talk about the Devil," Elias said, half-amused, half-resigned. "Ashwin, you met Luka last time."
"I did." Ashwin's eyes didn't leave Luka. "I still don't like him."
Luka blinked, caught between a laugh and a wince. "That's… refreshingly honest," he said, shifting his tablet under his arm. "I just wanted to say hello. We were good friends… when Elias wasn't buried in academic work."
Elias sighed and popped a coin into the machine. "Ashwin doesn't like anyone who hasn't been pre-screened by his boss," he said dryly.
Ashwin tilted his head, finally flicking his gaze to Elias. "That's called doing my job," he said, mild as ever but standing just off Elias's shoulder like a sentry.
"Uh-huh." Elias's mouth twitched. "And this is called me trying to buy a snack without triggering a security briefing."
Luka raised both hands a little, an awkward smile tugging at his mouth. "Eli, I need to tell you something."