it has no home in words or goal

"Noah, that's ridiculous."

Noah blinked, neither petulant nor wholly blithe. "Why?"

That in itself was a tell: the lack of guardedlessness about the off-seer, as if he were purposely aware of the hypocrisy of his statement. That was what made it ridiculous - even if he had said something completely valid! Which he did, sometimes, but not always on purpose. It was enough to draw the tactician's curiosity, if not his ire, in the most mundane of scenarios.

And yet...well, wait...no, but you see...

Taion furrowed his brow. Noah cocked his head.

He was right! Somehow, he was right.