Jaakko nods when Cualli thanks him, though it feels misplaced. He wonders quietly whether or not he should write a memo to Bell asking or labeling Cualli as a desertion risk, considering her interest in Arkhip, while the all the details of it were not known, was still something of an open secret. Short of jumping there was no way Cualli could desert while the airship was moving. He doubted she could use a parachute.
He looks at Elu briefly, who he had not made eye contact with the whole time, and then to Cualli, who is burying her face in her hands.
"I'm not sure what to tell you, the Gods know if it would have made a difference. If the Air Force learned he was a desertion risk, he would have been grounded and put on a short leash,"
He wonders if whatever committee investigating the airliner hijacking would look into his time as flight lead and find that Cualli was fraternizing with an officer, but he dismisses it as paranoia. He had done no wrong, surely, in Aesthia's eyes, nor would an enlisted be any concern of his.
He sits, leering at Cualli and still wearing a look of great displeasure, although his anger was not directed at her. Would she run too?
There's a futility to it because Jaakko was never very good at reading people, which he is aware of.
Poll