. . . What's that you say? You buried it in there, Winter, I may need to hear it again. That bit about you wanting it for yourself. I am most interested in you elaborating on that part in specific.

[Because that part, there, sounds less like a rejection than Nikolas had feared he was hearing until it came out. He stares back. The two of them, here like silly awkward teenagers, staring at one another in disbelief.]