I meant once the current situation is over. My job title's been changed.
[The fact that he bothers responding puts a smile on her face, and she can't help but laugh softly at the fact he took the time to say something only to sound like he's sneering at her. The fact that he almost looks peaceful puts her more at ease, and she ignores the tone of his voice to just keep talking casually. Like they're friends.]
Speaking of the current situation -
[She hesitates, not knowing how he's going to take her question. ]
[ Slowly, his attention narrows, a trace of the customary sharpness in his gaze. A hint of admiration in his voice. ] Yes, you were careful never to specify what that was.
[ Her question is a non sequitur, as far as he's concerned, as out of place as her smile. The teams are just the latest bit of irrelevance from the captains.
It takes him a moment to recall: ] Defense. [ He has not attended a single meeting. ]
[Leaving the team issue alone for now (since she's got an answer out of him as to which team she's intending on stealing him from), her smile turns into an amused smirk that lasts just long enough for her to get out what she has to say on the same breath breath as a laugh.]
Isn't it obvious?
[She knows well enough not to actually patronize him or draw this out beyond slight flirtatious teasing.]
Working with intelligence is a better position for me than gardening.
[But that's not really why she's contacted him. Just one of the excuses so she could get to. Her smile melts away as she quickly thinks over how to best ask him what she wants to, and mentally screams at herself to just get it out and over with. Quickly, before he can respond to the work related banter.]
But what I thought is, that if I'm going to be leading a team of negotiators [Or going with them, anyway. Details.] it might be a good idea to have a guard. I'm not a trained fighter, not by any stretch of the imagination.
[She can pick up a blaster or a mace and use them well enough, but she's never been in a situation like this before.]
So, would you go with me? Just to make sure nothing happens.
[ He knows she's team leader—that's one way to do it, seize control and attempt to resuscitate the bloating corpse of a plan the captains have dumped at their feet. He supposes her ambition is a credit to her, but can only think what might have been accomplished with all this misdirected energy. ]
You're going to them? [ Kylo frowns, half-turning from the screen. Dangerous. Potentially an opportunity. There are things he can't do from a distance.
His gaze snaps back to the MID. ] I won't be accountable for the rest of your team.
[Her eyes slightly narrow at first, and she attempts to decide if that's something she wants to be bossy about. She knows he's strong, knows he has some kind of powers, and knows that pushing him ends up with a hostile reaction. She needs to help him work on that temper of his, but right now isn't the time or the place.
He's agreeing to guard her, at least, and they can work on anything else as it happens. So she gives a curt nod, agreeing to the fact that he can't be held accountable for everyone.]
There will be other people there who can fight. But I want someone I know and trust.
[ Kylo somehow relaxes without moving, his attention slackening. He breathes out. ] There are acceptable and unacceptable losses. [ It sounds like a grave-voiced quotation. ] You're not an acceptable loss.
[ His head tips to the side. ] Will the plan work?
[She thinks of teasing him about that first part, about turning the teasing into something flirtatious. For the first time in a long while, she doesn't. The idea of it doesn't sit well with her, when she feels he's being relatively open and honest. So she just gives him a tired smile instead.]
I hope that it will. But I'm afraid that it won't be enough. That we'll have to fight.
[Her voice is soft, almost distant sounding as she allows her fear and anxiety to slip through the mask of bubbly energy she usually wears. She's terrified of letting everyone down, of not doing enough and her mistakes causing everyone to die. That fear is what's keeping her up tonight, and has her looking so exhausted.]
I'm asking you to go, and if something happens to you, that wouldn't be an acceptable loss either. Not to me.
[ Perhaps it's the late hour, the world blurred at the edges, but he allows himself to see his mother in the erosion responsibility works on her features. He allows himself to not resent her for it. ]
It will be easier to keep you safe if you share your doubts.
[ He has agreed. His sole condition has been met.
At her words, he looks briefly, almost pleasurably troubled, as though tasting something unfamiliar. He meets her eyes—longer than a moment, longer than is comfortable. ]
I'm capable of more than you're aware. [ He breathes, in and out. He's never had occasion to explain the Force. It's never been necessary. ] I know when people lie. Were we to capture—
[The idea of how useful that must be comes out on an excited breath, almost a gasp. It sounds like something the Doctor would say he can do, without any proof to back it up. She's the one doing the staring then, trying so hard to figure him out.]
How?
[It could be a simple matter of knowing body language. She can tell when someone's lying to her well enough based off that. Maybe it's the same for him.]
no subject
[The fact that he bothers responding puts a smile on her face, and she can't help but laugh softly at the fact he took the time to say something only to sound like he's sneering at her. The fact that he almost looks peaceful puts her more at ease, and she ignores the tone of his voice to just keep talking casually. Like they're friends.]
Speaking of the current situation -
[She hesitates, not knowing how he's going to take her question. ]
What team were you placed on?
no subject
[ Her question is a non sequitur, as far as he's concerned, as out of place as her smile. The teams are just the latest bit of irrelevance from the captains.
It takes him a moment to recall: ] Defense. [ He has not attended a single meeting. ]
no subject
Isn't it obvious?
[She knows well enough not to actually patronize him or draw this out beyond slight flirtatious teasing.]
Working with intelligence is a better position for me than gardening.
[But that's not really why she's contacted him. Just one of the excuses so she could get to. Her smile melts away as she quickly thinks over how to best ask him what she wants to, and mentally screams at herself to just get it out and over with. Quickly, before he can respond to the work related banter.]
But what I thought is, that if I'm going to be leading a team of negotiators [Or going with them, anyway. Details.] it might be a good idea to have a guard. I'm not a trained fighter, not by any stretch of the imagination.
[She can pick up a blaster or a mace and use them well enough, but she's never been in a situation like this before.]
So, would you go with me? Just to make sure nothing happens.
no subject
You're going to them? [ Kylo frowns, half-turning from the screen. Dangerous. Potentially an opportunity. There are things he can't do from a distance.
His gaze snaps back to the MID. ] I won't be accountable for the rest of your team.
no subject
[Her eyes slightly narrow at first, and she attempts to decide if that's something she wants to be bossy about. She knows he's strong, knows he has some kind of powers, and knows that pushing him ends up with a hostile reaction. She needs to help him work on that temper of his, but right now isn't the time or the place.
He's agreeing to guard her, at least, and they can work on anything else as it happens. So she gives a curt nod, agreeing to the fact that he can't be held accountable for everyone.]
There will be other people there who can fight. But I want someone I know and trust.
no subject
[ His head tips to the side. ] Will the plan work?
no subject
I hope that it will. But I'm afraid that it won't be enough. That we'll have to fight.
[Her voice is soft, almost distant sounding as she allows her fear and anxiety to slip through the mask of bubbly energy she usually wears. She's terrified of letting everyone down, of not doing enough and her mistakes causing everyone to die. That fear is what's keeping her up tonight, and has her looking so exhausted.]
I'm asking you to go, and if something happens to you, that wouldn't be an acceptable loss either. Not to me.
[Since clearly, he's agreed to it.]
no subject
It will be easier to keep you safe if you share your doubts.
[ He has agreed. His sole condition has been met.
At her words, he looks briefly, almost pleasurably troubled, as though tasting something unfamiliar. He meets her eyes—longer than a moment, longer than is comfortable. ]
I'm capable of more than you're aware. [ He breathes, in and out. He's never had occasion to explain the Force. It's never been necessary. ] I know when people lie. Were we to capture—
no subject
[The idea of how useful that must be comes out on an excited breath, almost a gasp. It sounds like something the Doctor would say he can do, without any proof to back it up. She's the one doing the staring then, trying so hard to figure him out.]
How?
[It could be a simple matter of knowing body language. She can tell when someone's lying to her well enough based off that. Maybe it's the same for him.]
Tell me, and I'll share all of my doubts.