His is an eager mind. She can feel the reach of it even through the narrow pinhole version of the link drawn purposefully thin between them, in the hum of him under her touch. It's a useful quality - or has potential to be, if properly directed. He'll need management, but with care and gentle oversight she suspects he can be encouraged to function in a way which they will all find beneficial.

"Of course you don't." There's a sterility to her tone that makes it difficult to tell if she believes him or not, but her hand at his chin gentles accordingly. If he wishes to straighten his face, she won't stop him.

There are facilities on the ship that might heal the lingering hurt and strip the scar from him, but she feels no desire to take it from him. There's a rawness to it, something hot and sparking behind his chest over the wound, that's appealing to her. Feels fractured in a way that's compelling. Better to let him keep it if he's so divided over it.