He shakes his head, says simply, "Everything we could do was done. It's not in Gaav-dono's nature to hide himself away, or for Phibrizzo-dono's to give up on a target. In those circumstances, confrontation can only be delayed."
His chin goes up a little, eyes calm. Taking the warning, he's fully ready to move fast. "Not 'better.' From different angles. But I didn't say that I would protect you, Gaav-dono; please don't paint me in such arrogant colors. Or treacherous ones: you're saying 'service' again." Also, he thinks it's frankly ridiculous to call anyone who's directly bargaining with War a weasel, but that's a minor point. He's definitely not wheedling, though; Metallium may duck and wheel when the situation calls for it, but pack is pack. "You're asking for me to look to the interests of four people, whether or not that includes protection, and for the application of my abilities and connections for your goals, and offering shelter from the storms of Mazoku politics, yes? OK-desu. But along with an agreement to assist and not to betray you and to take care of Val-kun and Jakkun, you want me to not only ignore, not only make a truce with, with but care for and protect someone who I'd rather like to flay alive. That's worth more, Gaav-dono. Everything else I'm happy to agree to. But that's not just a commitment, that's a cracking* sacrifice; even just ignoring him for Val-kun's sake makes my ether snarl; and that's worth more."
"Veriel-chan didn't let the Zel-kun I knew spend much time with him," he shrugs. He'd encouraged this--with reverse psychology, of course.
Smiling, "Aa, well, it'll recover; he didn't kill them all, and the weather here is wet and usually horrible. They'll spawn again, and there were too many of his eyes around."
* Just a reminder that he thinks this is swearing... and that he is ready for Gaav to take a swing at him. One way or another. But he'll be a bit hurt if Gaav doesn't at least stop accusing him of weaseling and notice that he's standing his ground for those he has obligations/attachments to. Against, um, Gaav. Who he's not only afraid of (being at least halfway sane), but actually likes and wants to please. At the very least, that should be indicative of his ability to keep the promise. (nodnod) And if Gaav should notice that, it would be sooooo convenient towards making the thread go smoothly... n,n;;;;
Whee! Yeah, he probably is, although he can be wearing swimming trunks if anyone delicate is seeing it... Oh no, notification fail time again? :\ I hope it's just a fluke this time... Insanejournal is usually better than Livejournal, where we've had weeks at a time of epicfail, but still, annoying!!!