[ The lack of denial does prompt van Zieks to turn and meet Stronghart's eyes properly. He had not once been at risk of actually believing that he was being delusional in his accusations, but it is still a surprise that Stronghart would be willing to give up on that strategy so soon. This isn't open admission of much, and van Zieks knows better than to ask for more, but it is acknowledgement of a shared standard of knowledge.

It makes Stronghart feel less like a specter of the past and more like a part of the present and immediate future, of this life that they're building here after having been dragged out from the ashes of their old reality. Accepting Stronghart into the order of his life once more feels like a regression, but for as long as the man is here van Zieks has a moral obligation to not let him out of his sight. As ghostly petals rain over them, Barok feels real acceptance of that for the first time. ]

A statement worthy of several objections.

[ Genshin did not willingly get shot dead, for one. And then Klint-- It is not the time to unpack all of that. Barok wants to be able to focus on his duties later.

So... moving on. ]

Fortunately, this is not a court of law and this drink does not hold enough of my favor to make me feel inclined to argue.

[ He is absolutely not having this conversation sober whenever it comes. ]