In The Rough

[Omi]

Like a sponge, Siobhan absorbed Morreti's little spiel with an unflinching expression. Whether she'd bought into it or not was impossible to say.

"Gone and said 'all of you' jes' there," she observed. "Like you still don't think you're one of us, in the end."

Her voice was flat -- not accusatory, not inherently judgemental, just a statement of what she saw as fact. She forged on before he could interrupt.

"You got some way of speakin' on you, Damian, I'll give you that. Like you're tryna disarm me with words. Definitely a talker."

Siobhan folded her arms, her metal hand glinting as the artificial light caught it. Despite the prosthetic's age, it was obviously well-maintained. It was worn from use, but the cold steel still spoke of regular attention.

"Some part a' me would like to call you out on all that talkin'. Pretty words, pretty oration -- none of it counts for anythin' if'n we aren't makin' progress. Goin' forwards." There was an edge to her voice now. "I'll be the first ta admit that what I see here -- here in Ramsey an' elsewhere across fair Liberty -- is progress, yeah, but you still ain't answered my question. I ain't questionin' what you've done or even how you've done it -- 's obvious you kin talk if nothin' else -- but I still ain't seein' your motivation behind it all. You ain't no grassroots boy from Ouray, that's for sure, so I sure am strugglin' to see your payoff in gettin' involved in buildin' a better Liberty."

She hadn't directly accused him of anything, but the confrontational tone made it clear she wasn't satisfied. His accomplishments spoke for themselves, but something about him simply felt off. That wasn't to say that he intimidated her -- a cautious approach was not the same as an intimidated one. The Xenos knew that better than anyone; many a Libertonian captain had confused necessary caution with sheer intimidation in the past, mistaking the entry of their capital ship into the fray as an overwhelming advantage in morale and directed firepower, only to discover that a careful and precise wing of Rocs could leave them disabled and drifting until a relief force arrived.

No, Siobhan was certain that she wasn't intimidated. She was, however, very cautious, and still unsatisfied with Morreti's explanation thus far.

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