( a small hum of interest escapes him, low and throaty, the smile he polished up wearing at its edges and revealing a layer of darker persistence. so he was going to show defiance by not speaking? that's fine. this stranger has acknowledged him with his shrinking and guarded ways, and that has its own strict appeal to kureto's curiosity, the weakness coming off as an accessory of interest. more so than the book, which is more of a tool to use in these interactions, really. )

What's that? You don't feel like speaking? ( he steps in closer, the toe of his boot tapping against dextera's. ) That's fine. I'm more interested in what that book has to say.

( though he knows he could likely win an attempt to wrest it from the other, kureto untucks his own book and holds it up instead, expression dropping to something sever and surveying. )

I'd like to discuss what this all means. Why don't you show me yours so I can show you mine, hm?