[ A nod, not churlish but weary. He doesn't have it in him to contain all that resentment just now. His exhaustion is sudden and terrible; he can't feel his limbs. His gaze isn't steely but it's careful, studying the planes of her face, trying to reach some decision within himself. ]

[ When he finally speaks, the words are thick and blocky as if yanked from dried mud. ]

I'm going to give you some time to think this whole night over. If you're still sure you want to continue this [ because if there's one thing he's learnt, it's that distance and a full night's sleep can make you reassess a lot of choices made in the heat of the moment ] then I don't think we should carry on the way we have been.

[ Changes. That word again. There'll have to be changes made. ]