Raju doesn't, for a moment. Raju only looks at him, frowning. The beginnings of a fire behind him doesn't cast its light very strongly, or far, but as it flickers he can see Francis' eyes shimmering. Francis should believe, see all this the same way Raju sees it. It's... better, if he does.
And Raju does need to tend to the fire.
Raju doesn't, for a moment again. His grip is firm around Francis' hand and his frown is unsettled, unsatisfied. Then he turns, hands slipping away from him, and pushes a log closer to the flames, pushing another to nudge some pieces of curling, crumbling newspaper closer to the wood. There's more wood somewhere else in this cabin, he thinks distantly. Shelves, chairs, things ready to be broken down. He should make some kind of torch, go and look for them.
He glances at the darkness behind himself, not really trying to see into it. His thumb worries over the surface of the pendant. His gaze roams behind them, then settles onto Francis' face again. Raju can't see his expression, quite, part of his face in shadow. He can see the light shining over Francis' eyes.
"It won't happen again here," he tries, firmly. "Your man, the Lieutenant. Little. He said there was a mutiny. What would happen if someone tried to mutiny here? This isn't an expedition, we aren't on the ocean. There aren't any ships. What is there to take control over? A collection of ruined log houses? Let them have them. Do what they will."
no subject
And Raju does need to tend to the fire.
Raju doesn't, for a moment again. His grip is firm around Francis' hand and his frown is unsettled, unsatisfied. Then he turns, hands slipping away from him, and pushes a log closer to the flames, pushing another to nudge some pieces of curling, crumbling newspaper closer to the wood. There's more wood somewhere else in this cabin, he thinks distantly. Shelves, chairs, things ready to be broken down. He should make some kind of torch, go and look for them.
He glances at the darkness behind himself, not really trying to see into it. His thumb worries over the surface of the pendant. His gaze roams behind them, then settles onto Francis' face again. Raju can't see his expression, quite, part of his face in shadow. He can see the light shining over Francis' eyes.
"It won't happen again here," he tries, firmly. "Your man, the Lieutenant. Little. He said there was a mutiny. What would happen if someone tried to mutiny here? This isn't an expedition, we aren't on the ocean. There aren't any ships. What is there to take control over? A collection of ruined log houses? Let them have them. Do what they will."