There was an awkward pause.

"Ah," said Bern.  "Is it... a family matter, then?"

"I'm sure we can," Gregory said. "Everyone's got some good inside them."

"You could call it that, yes," Karine said.

"...Ah," said Bern.  "Well. That's... a shame, but of course, I don't really understand what's happened.  I hope that... no, I can't really say that.  I don't know enough."

"Sympathies," said Cil.  "I've had those."

"I hope you're right about that," said Giulia.  "We need to get past our differences if we'll survive as a team."

"It's only the one noble, right? I'm sure she'll come around," Gregory said. "I doubt she'd want to disappoint her family."

"Don't worry about it," Karine said., downing more ale. "Let's talk about the future instead of the past."

"True," said Giulia.  "I hope the scholar learns some manners, too.  But I suppose he was just curious."

"An excellent notion," said Cil.  "so... how do we want to make this work?  As a team?"

"I could try talking to him," Gregory said.

"I don't see any problems on my end," Karine said. "We'll have to work out things in more detail in practice."

"Well, we'll need to think about tactics, at least," said Bern.  "I take it you're a front-line fighter?"

"That might be for the best," said Giulia.  "Just for the sake of diplomacy."

"Okay," Gregory said. "It don't seem like he wants to cause problems, just a mite insensitive."

"I am. Not exactly subtle about it," Karine said.

"I realize this when I haven't been having to listen to him," sighed Giulia.

"I can back you up, at least a bit," said Bern.

"I'm more of a sniper," said Cil.  "Works pretty well as backup for that."

"MIght strange though. Were do people act like that?" Gregory wondered.

"Well, you should be safe then," Karine said.

"Not actually my goal," said Cil.  "I'll take it, but I'm just playing to my strengths.  And doing this for myself."

"I'm not wise enough to say," said Giulia.  "I suppose I'll get used to him, or him to me."

"I'm just hoping he'll listen to reason," Gregory said.

Karine shrugged.

"Sure, that's cool."

"Agreed," said Giulia.  "...I suppose we ought to go talk to him."

"It's very important to me," said Cil.  "That's all.  I have to make my own path in the world."