Madi rolls her eyes, but the set of her mouth betrays a suppressed smile. It's true, his assessment of Riftwatch aligns very closely with a certain mess of pirates, but that doesn't matter when there are greater stakes at play.
She doesn't want to admit that he's right, and he's teasing with her.
Yes, they have a serious matter looming over their heads. Yes, there is much to do to try and mitigate it. But there's room enough for this, teasing out a smile from her in spite of herself.
"I'm sure you've never heard of such a disorganized assembly."
It occurs to John that the pirates might be easier managed than Riftwatch, but that's not conducive to teasing.
"Don't flatter us too much," John answers, voice warm, light.
His hand stretches across the table, seeking to catch hold of her.
"Some of it will be familiar to you," he says, more serious. "But they are not so united as your people and mine. That's the trouble. And not all of them are so convinced as to the measures that need taking."
"That is the trouble," she echoes, lost in thought for a brief moment before taking his hand between both of hers.
"I will try, in the time that I am here, to see the worth you see in this place, and how it might aid in our efforts. You know that I cannot promise what I cannot bring into being."
All she can do is look, listen, try to find the threads that bind them and endeavor to make them stronger than the knives that would sever them.
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"She's unyielding."
As much of a compliment as it has been a frustration. What he does not say: Now that I think of it, she reminds me somewhat of you.
"Not to be underestimated, but if we can sway her, it'll make all our lives easier."
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One doesn't need to be stubborn to have their guard raised by the sense that she's being coerced.
"And you only believe her goals do not oppose ours? Have neither you nor Flint been able to learn what she wants?"
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"Riftwatch is made up of a lot of people who don't know exactly what they want, but they're very certain about what they oppose."
Which isn't necessarily an answer to Yseult, but.
"Everyone here has their own private objective, some more easy to guess than others."
A slight grin. Are they any different?
no subject
She doesn't want to admit that he's right, and he's teasing with her.
no subject
Yes, they have a serious matter looming over their heads. Yes, there is much to do to try and mitigate it. But there's room enough for this, teasing out a smile from her in spite of herself.
"I'm sure you've never heard of such a disorganized assembly."
It occurs to John that the pirates might be easier managed than Riftwatch, but that's not conducive to teasing.
"They do grow on you, given time."
did she just call him a barnacle?
what a compliment
His hand stretches across the table, seeking to catch hold of her.
"Some of it will be familiar to you," he says, more serious. "But they are not so united as your people and mine. That's the trouble. And not all of them are so convinced as to the measures that need taking."
no subject
"I will try, in the time that I am here, to see the worth you see in this place, and how it might aid in our efforts. You know that I cannot promise what I cannot bring into being."
All she can do is look, listen, try to find the threads that bind them and endeavor to make them stronger than the knives that would sever them.