At least he's doing her the courtesy of not lying to her, she appreciates that, in a disgruntled it's-the-least-she-deserves kind of way. But that doesn't stop her from being exasperated and worried in the extreme, and she wordlessly frowns up at him for a long moment. Still, she does want his help, desperately so, willing to cling to any new sliver of hope. Eventually she sighs deeply, knowing it's futile to argue with him.

"You had better be," she chides him, most of her sternness replaced by conflicted concern. "Since you are determined not to listen to me, as usual." For the first time she feels a spark of fondness for him at that, reassured to see that nothing fundamental has changed at all, as obnoxious as this particular habit of his may be. Slightly less disgruntled and slightly more affectionate, she raises an eyebrow and adds, "I see I must still put up with that."