If Rex was one of Hawke's friends, Anders would nudge him and teasingly ask him to stop. Since he's not, Anders pretends he can't see the smirk.

It doesn't stop Rex smirking. "I can leave you in peace if you want?"

"Ha!" Anders says, and nudges him. Maybe not being Hawke or her friends doesn't matter right now.

Rex nudges back, grinning.

"Do you think she likes me? From that interaction?" Anders laughs.

"She doesn't dislike you, which this soon after meeting her is as good as."

"I've figured that, she hides her cards well though."

"You're not wrong. Her and Mak are both a lot like that."

"I don't blame them. It's easier."

"Easier. But lonely sometimes."

"Sometimes you have to be lonely to protect your heart."

"Perhaps."

Anders remembers Karl, and nods in return to Rex.

"I just- I'd prefer to have loved and lost, y'know? To actually live. Not saying Circ and Mak don't have their reasons, they do. Just."

"I'm of the opinion that loss hurts more, not that I'd begrudge you yours. Love is a wonderful thing to have."

"Maybe," Rex agrees, a little distant. "Hey, c'mon. Let's see if anything in the medbay explodes when you poke it."

"I see you are also of a scientific mind," Anders laughs. "Sounds like a plan to me."

The medbay is, perhaps dissapointingly, explosive and explosion free.

Most of the instruments are strange to Anders, but they aren’t difficult to figure out. If his magic can adapt to this world, he most likely won’t need them, either way. 

A speaker on the wall squawks angrily. "Tana, I am not explaining to your wife why you starved. Dinner."

"If you don't mind, I'll stay here and get acquainted with the machinery? I'll be up later." 

"Your call. Circ may start bitching about people not eating, but."

"I'll eat, promise. Once the seasickness wears off."

"Pretty sure there's tablets in here somewhere for that."

"I'll dig them up, you head off to dinner."