When she asks for clarification, his eyes flick over to her face again, though he keeps his chin buried against his folded arms, and then flick away again when she says no and asks if he wants to talk about this.

"If I didn't want to, I wouldn't have brought it up."

His voice is steady and calm as he says it, and he means every word, that much is obvious, but after a moment he continues, his voice still calm and even-toned but firm.

"I don't make idle conversation, as a rule. And I don't lie."