[Has he been? Has it been so very obvious? What of his attempts to make it not so very obvious? Well. Of course he would have failed that much. Of course Winter, of all people, would see straight through him.

His first instinct is to play it off as nothing at all.]

Recently? Given that we’ve just recently walked straight into the lion’s den, and now off on a task to another lion’s den, I think I’m allowed to be a little “off”, don’t you?

[And in the next second, what overrides instinct, rearing its convenient head only in conversations with this man: sincerity. His tone eases some of its sarcasm, and he exhales. Tries again, unfolding the rag idly with both hands.]

…I may have a thing or two on my mind on top of all of that, though. But firstly, I think I need to thank you.