Whether she's manipulating him or not, she doesn't press for any more of a response to point three, just lets him move them right along to—well, in her opinion, it's the one he's most likely to agree with.
"Even if Isaac were here, there would be some reason not to move forward. An upcoming battle, or one of us needed on a mission, or a concern about my health, or yours—Doctor, you know better than I that ideal conditions don't exist. To put off a time-sensitive procedure with an unknown expiration date waiting for them is folly.
"That does not, of course, excuse recklessness," she allows, anticipating that particular rejoinder, "there's a difference between waiting for survivable conditions and an elusive ideal. But even in that case, Stephen—"
Ness's eyes have been focused on Stephen's this whole time, tracking his every twitch and hum to gauge how her arguments are landing. She doesn't look away, now, but her eyes soften, dropping the logical mask to let her true feelings shine through.
"Who could have a better chance of seeing me through this than you? You have knowledge of technique and science that no one else on this entire continent could even dream of, decades of experience, and a track record that speaks for itself. Yes, it would be better to have Isaac—but you are a doctor, not a healer, and of the two I will take preference for the doctor, any day."
It's hard to believe that they haven't even known each other a whole year. Stephen has become so important to her in such a short period of time—half a year, a little more than, and she's ready to put her life in his hands.
no subject
"Even if Isaac were here, there would be some reason not to move forward. An upcoming battle, or one of us needed on a mission, or a concern about my health, or yours—Doctor, you know better than I that ideal conditions don't exist. To put off a time-sensitive procedure with an unknown expiration date waiting for them is folly.
"That does not, of course, excuse recklessness," she allows, anticipating that particular rejoinder, "there's a difference between waiting for survivable conditions and an elusive ideal. But even in that case, Stephen—"
Ness's eyes have been focused on Stephen's this whole time, tracking his every twitch and hum to gauge how her arguments are landing. She doesn't look away, now, but her eyes soften, dropping the logical mask to let her true feelings shine through.
"Who could have a better chance of seeing me through this than you? You have knowledge of technique and science that no one else on this entire continent could even dream of, decades of experience, and a track record that speaks for itself. Yes, it would be better to have Isaac—but you are a doctor, not a healer, and of the two I will take preference for the doctor, any day."
It's hard to believe that they haven't even known each other a whole year. Stephen has become so important to her in such a short period of time—half a year, a little more than, and she's ready to put her life in his hands.