[Oh, that is—absolutely a lot of assumptions all in a row, and admittedly of the understandable sort... Palamedes doesn't fluster, at least, shaking his head lightly with a brief chuckle.]

I assure you, Rose, my intentions are purely scientific. Maybe social. I don't actually drink on a regular basis, so I may need someone to peel me off the floor if I misjudge my limits.

[Not that he's, like, asking or anything. But fair warning. After a beat he glances politely to the side rather than indulge his habit of Maintaining Serious Eye Contact, just in case that is creepy. Ahem.]

Do you believe that the drinks are "what we need," whatever that means?