Oh, that reasoning strikes Themis through the center of his ribcage and leaves behind a wake of blooming warmth. It unfurls like a living thing, delicate vines twining up, up, into his throat and catching his breath with the most gentle of caresses.

"Oh," he manages, voice choked.

A hard swallow sorts him enough to be able to speak clearly again. He's still unbalanced. "Thank you, for saying such things. For believing in me in that way." Themis could say more, but he refrains. Instead he takes a deep breath and, upon letting it out, it unspools much of the vice-like tension that had gripped him since the start of all of this.

It's clear that the relaxation effect is going both ways.