The shift in Julius's posture is subtle — suppressed worry and irritation to suppressed worry and something else — and mainly manifests in a small adjustment to the way he holds his shoulders. He doesn't pause, though, before answering.
"Dickerson expects him to be well, unless there turns out to have been any nerve damage. But as far as I could determine, he didn't think that was likely. In any event, Marcus seems well enough that getting him to lie down for more than a brief stretch is going to be an increasingly difficult challenge, so I'm sure he'll be ready to move when we start heading back."
Flint meant it well, or at worst neutrally, so Julius doesn't see any reason not to answer in the same vein. The tangled mess of how he feels about it is something to think about later (or, if Marcus will allow it, possibly never). Nor does Flint need the it's-not-actually-funny observation that Marcus probably won't even have scars as bad as those Julius got off a dracolisk at Ghislain; Julius is probably not going to make the joke to anyone, under the circumstances, but it has occurred to him all the same.
His low grunt of assent sounds like a tally being made in a mental column. Even if he weren't ready to move, they've one or two resources to hand that might have seen it accomplished. While he doesn't imagine a ride in a litter strung under a griffon to be particularly pleasant—
Isn't really relevant or why he'd inquired, suggests the continued beat of study Flint makes of Julius.
"Should I be informing Rutyer that you require further occupation, or that you're to be freed from whatever he's already saddled you with?"
The slightly longer-than-usual pause is the only real indication that Julius is slightly mortified to be perceived as having an emotion. He'd prefer if even the pause wasn't there.
Still, he says, "There is plenty to do, in every quarter. I don't think I require special treatment, given that I'm not the one who sustained a serious injury." It's probably an indication of just how tired he is that he doesn't stop himself before adding, "Though of course I can't stop you from exercising the discretion of your rank. Commander."
It's not snide; it's not a joke. If anything, it's an acknowledgement that Julius has been stretched thin over the last 36 hours and if someone whose judgment he respects feels the need to intervene, he won't fight it.
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"Dickerson expects him to be well, unless there turns out to have been any nerve damage. But as far as I could determine, he didn't think that was likely. In any event, Marcus seems well enough that getting him to lie down for more than a brief stretch is going to be an increasingly difficult challenge, so I'm sure he'll be ready to move when we start heading back."
Flint meant it well, or at worst neutrally, so Julius doesn't see any reason not to answer in the same vein. The tangled mess of how he feels about it is something to think about later (or, if Marcus will allow it, possibly never). Nor does Flint need the it's-not-actually-funny observation that Marcus probably won't even have scars as bad as those Julius got off a dracolisk at Ghislain; Julius is probably not going to make the joke to anyone, under the circumstances, but it has occurred to him all the same.
no subject
Isn't really relevant or why he'd inquired, suggests the continued beat of study Flint makes of Julius.
"Should I be informing Rutyer that you require further occupation, or that you're to be freed from whatever he's already saddled you with?"
no subject
Still, he says, "There is plenty to do, in every quarter. I don't think I require special treatment, given that I'm not the one who sustained a serious injury." It's probably an indication of just how tired he is that he doesn't stop himself before adding, "Though of course I can't stop you from exercising the discretion of your rank. Commander."
It's not snide; it's not a joke. If anything, it's an acknowledgement that Julius has been stretched thin over the last 36 hours and if someone whose judgment he respects feels the need to intervene, he won't fight it.