Is there any point in saying it any other way? [ She gives his cheek a poke. ] You'd know what I was saying no matter how nice I tried to make it sound.

[ Then she goes back to stroking his hair. ]

Since lies don't work on you, I might as well just tell you up front. It'd bug you way more if I tried to butter you up, right?

[ She leans in, her hair pouring over her shoulders to curtain his head in her lap. ]

This is supposed to be about you relaxing a little, anyway. So I'm not gonna try and rile you up.

[ ... that's what she says, but she blows a short puff of breath right into his ear. Devious. ]