[ The first hesitations aren't trivial. Bastien's thought something similar, contemplating the possibility of checking Kaiten for familiar faces. But the last one, after the moment required to understand the reason for it, feels like a bruise spreading under his collarbone. ]

Then...

[ He can't insult Byerly's sister. And he can't promise it wouldn't happen, because what if it did? Time does funny things to memories. ]

...she would need more time to get to know you again, to see how foolish that is. But I think she would see.