"Oh... oh, my friend." Softly, and Hythlodaeus's arm tightened a little around the smaller figure, protectively.

"It truly should not be like that. While the people who you grew up with did not do this, there are many others who would, if they could but see how needed it is. Whether in friendship, or something else...

"But, never mind that. You are here now, and you can have it as often as you wish, so long as we don't end up offending the sensibilities of others."

Probably public displays would not be met with great enthusiasm. But even with official business, they would not always be in public.