It absolutely was all right, and Hythlodaeus smiles approvingly as he wraps his arm around the slender shoulders, palm closing comfortingly over the upper arm, then rubbing a little.

"It's different with Emet-Selch - he was ever a less sociable kind of person, and becoming part of the Convocation meant he put a little more stock on formality. But with Azem, it has always been different, especially in private. There are always things he can't quite put into words, or has reasons not to tell, but this, I can give."

To Azem. To Mikh'tan.

Yes, this is perfectly fine.