Letting go of the professional posturing in order to answer her, his face adopted a soft smile for an expression. "What's changed is that I had time to think. And I think you do need something in your life, but if what you need right now is just a friend, then that's what I'll be. Rather than us ever having to argue about it again, it just comes down to the box and if you'll ever be ready to open it." It was definitely an eccentric way to encapsulate the situation between them, but he felt it was a good solution and it greatly simplified how the choice was represented.
"It's pretty sturdy, can be magnetically attached to a metal surface. Keeping it in the quarters of whatever base you happen to be using is probably the safest bet, but I'm not really too sure. As long as it stays with you I'm happy." The fact she was even considering where to keep this because she didn't want to risk losing it seemed to melt away his facade, replacing it with genuine satisfaction in response to that sentiment. This obviously meant something to him and it wasn't insignificant.
