[A gentle hand. A big, flashy show. It is still manipulation, and Rita went with it like someone who wasn't new to this. To swaying the minds of people.

He could respect that, even if he saw through it.]

Not if it works. Which... seems doubtful, really. Minds are generally not changed by pointless theoretical discussions.

[Lipservice, to pretend to want information and only hear the ones who agree. Humans wanted to feel safe. Special. Valued.

None of that was in this meeting.

But what he hears is the distant whisper of 'show me' from last winter, Alina's reckless dare on the network and the ruin that followed. Snapping out of it, his eyes refocus on Yennefer, on the bright eyes and her tilted chin.

Slowly, his thumb brush against her lower lip in a soft sweep, catching the last of the chocolate smear on her mouth.]

There, all better.

[His hand hangs in the air between, caught between memories and the very real woman seated next to him. And look back towards the front, he licks the remnants from his finger.]

Smaller teams would be better than this.