"Lapis. I've seen what you can do." His hand shifts on her, gentle and firm. "You've always scared the pants off of me, you know that? You're terrifying. Back home, and over here."

This might not be the best pep talk, but if she's not interested in beating around the bush, he won't either. She'd attacked and threatened him plenty often, even before Lesedi went and scrambled things up, and he'd be a fool to pretend that side of her wasn't there.

"Maybe you're got more Scared and Angry in you than you do Friend, right now. But, the only way we're gonna tip those scales is if we keep working at it."