Hokwing had mused about what exactly she could have done to force him to stop if he got carried away but until now the concept never quite came back up. Jade eyes watched her hands work his and the understated example while he frowned faintly. It wasn't the concept of being controlled that got to him but her own feelings regarding it: was that a regret or apology for reminding him of it so she could potentially have her way? Again, he never took those words seriously. Perhaps foolishly he trusted the woman's actions and respect for him much more than her actual words. They had been nothing but straight-forward in that way, so much so that body language and demeanor had given away feelings that were lingering behind.
Perhaps in spite of all that but without deliberate intent he held Victoria close by her midsection. An exhale escaped him as she finished her explaining about greed and possible ways to hold on. It wasn't born of frustration or irritation but palpable relief that came with a quiet rumble in his chest and words that were hardly any louder. "I trust you. Perhaps more than you trust yourself since I don't have to second-guess the thoughts in your head or customs I'm mostly ignorant about. The fact you're here and you show reluctance about what you speak of is more than enough to convince me to put my safety and comfort in your hands."
He drew back a bit to make eye contact and rested his hands upon her hips, his tone as reasonable as she insists he often is. "You've given in to many of my whims and have even sustained injury. I know it's not the same but I'm comfortable in following suit- aside from or including this topic you're so insistent on tip-toeing around. You needn't even concern yourself with my feelings as I obviously do worse to myself than you can manage. I'm becoming very aware of a number of things including my own selfishness." His back finally found the trunk of the tree he had leaned his flank against earlier and he lifted his head to peer skyward. She was free of his hands and arms for the moment though perhaps the only reason she wasn't pulled with was to avoid a stark contradiction with the words he just spoke.
"I'm not going anywhere and you don't need to say anything else regarding it. Knowing that I'm here for you, that I'm more than a complication, will keep me comfortably rooted until you slip away. If you're so concerned about attachments know that it's far too late: losing a friend is losing a friend and these things happen. I will console myself in vengeance with gleeful abandon when that happens. My own prideful war can wait; it is my past and isn't going anywhere. Best wait until then anyhow; confidence aside, it's bloody work with no guarantees... and I like my hamstrings intact."
He beamed a broad grin at the woman in red then, eager perhaps to put away so many of the conflicts that idle hands can create in the warmer months. "I can't thank you enough for your candidness. I know it isn't easy for you. I would repay you for your words if you can only name a price."