He doesn't have to touch you.

[But from what he can see, the boy is unmarked. Good.]

And no. There's no age requirement. I only knew of a few others who had that process done to them, but he's perfectly fine with working with anyone, children or adults.

[Even infants. That had been a weird day.]

But friendship . . . that's how it starts. Friendship, or an offer for something you desperately want. Sometimes they're the same thing.