ah ━━ there certainly remains some layers that linger beyond this response, the sort of unanswered questions that come with only being able to look someone in the eye, expression above spoken word, and it's hard not to wonder if this is what most mean when they mention being caught off guard. not with enough evidence to voice it, at least not right now, his own expression frozen for what might be a few tangible moments and yet, should he find himself pondering on such a situation further ━━ maybe this is the closest thing he'll have to honesty itself?
maybe it's because of how he'd softened the blow by bringing up the kids, a reminder of the ones he's certain they both wish to see kept safe, how he offered it up so earnestly in return, his words no different from the array of questions and concerns he's managed to speak since he's come face to face with the most wounded he's certain any in the underground have managed to catch the masked fool, the sort of tell that implies there's no new intentions that have made their way into the picture. maybe it's because of the implications behind the words that he speaks ( an idiom he's not familiar with in the way that others would be ━━ the wind, flittering, fragile occurrences he supposes remain in his path ) and that now is his opportunity to place sampo's actions above them the way he's certain most would push him to for a kind of situation, scenario like this. maybe it's how every thread, every forming thought, is silenced with the sudden warmth of sampo's fingers brushing against his own, no hesitation for his hand to drop to the side, for his own fingers to unwind and ah, isn't that an answer of his own? how unsubtle, how obvious, how very quite telling he is when he doesn't even have to utter the fact that he'll agree with it, that he understands, that it's nothing but water under the bridge for him, a bridge over troubled water ━━ or however the idioms supposed to go.
❛ no need to feel bad about it. sure, some might find that kind of thing suspicious, but a that sort of deal suits me just fine! ❜ sampo cares about belobog, he is certain of that much the longer they have this discussion, a man entangled in the unknown yet it's here he focuses on regardless ━━ one who, unlike most, can be anywhere at anytime, and yet chooses to remain here above all else. the smile that follows is small, attention pushed back to the present situation that still lingers in the back of their minds; the ever-looming promise of a threat he still needs to fully picture, something that boasts the ability to both cut hard and deep upon something that it should never have been able to see ━━ there's little chance they can silently push back on such a threat, ignore it's importance despite not knowing it's plan of action ( even if, honestly, some would hope for a chance for it to not to attack again; he'll just have to strike it first before there's a chance. ) ❛ i may not be the most heroic man you'll come to meet, but there's no need to worry about betrayal in this case. having a common goal or not, unnecessary trickery isn't something i've ever come to enjoy. ❜ should he have to think about it, he guesses ... most would accuse him of doing so now, his history with both the overworld and another space beyond kept solely to himself alone; it's not something he wishes to admit upon and there is no hesitation in the way he shakes his head, as if to reiterate his point alone.
❛ besides, the whole being unnatural thing? it really doesn't change much, as long as there's something left to attack. ❜ it's a contrast; an almost playful, airy tone, the lilt of someone who isn't considering the possibility of taking an abnormality down, of a battle without a front where even the odds seem closer to dire straits than possible ━━ they're not the sort of thing he allows himself to gamble with, not when the wish for something is what pulls him forward / when pointlessness makes him feel as though whatever remains of that place will swallow him whole. ❛ if there's not much treasure involved, something tells me there's something else on it's mind. we may be able to finish it quick if we can keep it distracted with that. do you know what caught it's eye? ❜ though there's little time for him to give such thoughts time to be considered, silently rushing to the fool's side if only to steady an arm across his back, a silent offer of help; a gentle request for him to rest yet helping him on his own two feet instead because, well ...
❛ at the end of the day, you can leave the whole 'being reckless' thing to me. everyone knows a parties even better when someone brings along a surprise. ❜ he can't really say if such a plan will follow through, but it's his own attempt at reassurance regardless ━━ he wants to help him, even if things should feel too secretive for him to be able to, he supposes; there are some parts that will come with time and some that may remain buried for years to come. ❛ is it back outside we need to go? i know a few places that'll keep us undisturbed. ❜