❝I wanna say this surprises me.
                 but you stopped surprising me
                 long ago, Piers.❞

        [ he’s more than a little flattered,
          and so he coughs slightly, and
          clears his throat in attempts to
          hide the twitch of a smile. ] 

                                   ❝didn’t anyone ever tell you that
                                       flirting with your captain will get
                                       you an- nowhere?❞

                          [ he really had to fight to keep
                            himself from saying ‘anywhere’.]