[She didn't mean to make him flinch. Honest, she didn't. But if he was going to start throwing around assertions like 'we can end this without violence' and make people question the need to even learn to defend themselves, she was going to figure out exactly what his plan of action entailed.

But now that he's stopped, she's stopped too. And she's listening, and trust me, she gets it. She's walked an interesting middle ground for years now, between arguing for an end to the war against the reapers and flat-out fighting for it face-to-face. It's not quite the same, but it has that crucial similarity--that balance that needs to be achieved.

So there's a few moments of contemplative silence before her answer finally comes.]

What if I said I could help you?

[A pause, and a head-shake.]

I'm no psychic, not by far, but I know a thing or two about what you're fighting with. And I think I can find you a balance.

[She's had her gaze on some nondescript chunk of pavement so far, and now she looks to Charles in the corner of her eye.]

If you'll let me.