i'd rather trust a man who doesn't shout what he's found

"Awful quiet tonight, Jin."

Minoth's statement was far from an exclamation, yet its tail kicked upwards, graciously jibing; the pensivity was left to its subject.

"I prefer it."

"Not the wildlife - I meant you."

A slurring of clauses, and again a dry, not-quite-joyless smile to the cadence of the words.

"Again," Jin began coyly, "I prefer it. To be quiet, and to have someone like you who doesn't pester me for it."

"This isn't pestering? Could've fooled me."

Jin shrugged. "I've seen worse."

Minoth lifted his chin; the prelude to a question-not-a-question. "And better."

And better, and better and better.