Even with these complicated questions and these moral disagreements, it wouldn't change his views of her. There hadn't been a moment he considered that, not even from the beginning. Their friendship had gotten a lot deeper now, not just a bond over a mutual love of space and homeworlds and wonders, but the sensation had just carried and deepened.
Easy enough to say the truth.
Hearing that she'd at least try relaxed him a bit. He understood why Pendour was the way she was. He also didn't want to lose her to that mission, and it was good to hear her draw back and... Even offer to patrol with him and not just by herself. And it was true, with someone else, he could draw her back, and perhaps she'd feel a bit better seeing him in action.
At least, she would have someone to support her.
"I'd love to. Patrols can get lonely anyway, really." He grinned, a hint that he would have said yes even if they didn't get lonely. "Always nice to be able to work with someone else. Even better if it's with someone important to me. Over the years, is gotten easier to accept that, too."
When Basiluzzo had first found out he was Encke -- through Faustite's action, ironically -- Encke's heart felt like it was slamming in his throat, and he... Froze. Patrolling with others was different now, and he liked this.
This felt like a good compromise.
stari_maga
