“You utter bugger,” accused Cepheus.

Balfour laughed lightly, glancing away from their retreating visitor and winking at his friend. He felt a kind of schoolboy pride in being able to have kept up the nonsensical pretence for as long as they did - but similarly relieved that it was over, because that meant they had gotten away with it. Ignorance was indeed bliss for some of them.

His grin only grew wider and more amused as Cepheus continue, though it abruptly turned into an exclamation of mock indignity.

          "...maybe Carter’s right."
"Not on your life!"

The Scotsman crumpled up one of the department fliers and threw it at Gamp's head. "What fun would that be? And it's harmless, really. Couldn't help stringing you along." Bal sighed wistfully before looking away towards their neighbouring career stalls to catch a glimpse of Johann. They were having a fine time, weren't they? So lucky, after months of so much trouble.

"Our minds are in the gutters but our hearts are with the stars," he announced grandly to Cepheus and then picked up another flier to fashion a paper aeroplane this time. "Come on. Let's see if we can maim Hamilton from this distance."