[ Her response made him laugh, whether she intended it to or not. It wasn't a laugh at her response precisely, but rather at his gambit getting caught out and smacked aside; as he'd intended.

He briefly considered sharing that for himself, he had to believe in the magical space knick knacks to deliver. Not just because of the nature of his regret and what it would mean were it to be undone, but because he'd effectively abandoned Lucy and George to come here. But all that strayed into the realm of feelings and more importantly Lockwood was busy mentally avoiding his own emotions on the subject. Forget trying to share.

So instead he brightened up and grinned. ] I'm not sure the rest of us can shrink any further in your expectations, least we risk disappearing out an airlock frame. [ As he spoke, he picked up the plate of biscuits and gave a peace offering. ] But I've got faith in our ability to show up; when it counts.

[ He means both in her esteem and also in her to have their backs; even if she currently acts like she'd like to grind the lot of them into compost to feed to plants. Sorry Ivy, he's thinking good of you. ]