[ it is perhaps less theatre and more deliberate — not a falsehood but rather it is him, shifting through all of his emotions and choosing to emphasise those he feels are required in any particular situation. it is how he has lived his life; blending truth and lies seamlessly, molding himself to be whatever each moment, each person needs. (and so he had been, until flint had convinced him to give a damn about the men, and something had changed. now, there is a little more truth, a little less lie.)

which is why he takes the question seriously — because that is what oushi needs him to do, right now. ]

Of course I do. Like a persistent whisper, telling you to run and not turn back.

[ and yet, he finds that as long as they stick together, it is... not exactly easy, but certainly not quite so difficult to ignore that sense. ]

You can stay here. I will locate it, and we can leave. It won't be far.