[ He gives Tieria a small, relieved smile. ] That's good.
You know I don't want things to be so tense between all of us, right? [ Neil has gone about saying it in round-about terms before, but this was no time for uncertainty. He casts his gaze to the side at an empty yard, hands in his pockets. ] I know things can't be perfect -- I know. So what if I'm a little deluded about wanting a peaceful life.
I can live with that. [ There's an unspoken emphasis on "live"; that's all he really wants to do, anymore, but things just keep happening. ]