[it's hard, watching him pick himself up and put his mask on. the sheer necessity of it is just too much, and Gepard's smile is wan, wry even. they're alone out here, and still he can't show it...

but then, if Dohalim harbours even a little doubt, it's fair enough. he wishes endlessly that he had a better option, something to suggest, but he doesn't.]

Then... if it works better, you could claim something of a... vacation, a break. Say that Serval's departure has affected me more than expected, and I'll need to rest for a few days. [it's not as if he's not rattled by the accusation Kelzalik made, even though he has every reason to assume the man is trying to distance the Landaus from Dohalim for... some reason.] My men can survive without me for a little while, especially in this time of relative peace.

I am sorry for having to rationalise it this way... but I have no intention of lying to you about how I feel. I'm no advisor, but... I know we'll get through this, as we have with every crisis that's arisen before now.