The flinching is more familiar. As is the tone Viatorus takes when he talks about his work. Something cold and heavy settles itself over Steve's heart and his blue eyes dim ever so slightly in pain to see this here and on Viatorus' face. He can't let it show. Holds his head high and shoulders square when the furniture shudders around them and Viatorus stares terrified at his wife to be.

"Why can't the furniture be touched?" Steve doesn't understand what he's seeing here. Why the furniture should all be covered. Is it dangerous? Steve can stand all day and then some--that's not an issue. But he doesn't understand the rules in this place nor what's likely to set Viatorus off again. In a louder voice, he's addressing Viatorus.

"What work? Tell me about it?" Will it soothe the mage to speak about what he needs to do? Steve needs to at least have an idea of the rules of engagement here. Otherwise he's going to be standing silently within Viatorus' line of sight for hours and while he can do that, he knows it's less than ideal.