[ Xenk always appreciates Lockwood's honest assessments. It's the benefit to having an older, more experienced youngblood among your cohort. Especially since his assessments have always been a great deal kinder than Xenk's own maker had been. But that's a minefield no one wants to enter!

Talk of Will does give him pause, considering. Xenk and Will share a quiet kind of understanding, what with the dead makers and the generally being in line with Courtsheart's rules. It's a well-known fact what happened to him, as well. ]

I understand your observations. It is not my intent to force the man's hand. What I see in him is what I believe he wants as well. We have discussed the matter somewhat... though he has, as of yet, kept his true intentions hidden from me.

[ And Xenk has shown the frankly incredible restraint of not prying into Kirk's brain for information. Wow. Even he knows that you don't make allies this way.

Speaking of restraint: ]

I have yet to, and have made it clear that I would not sleep with him as a novice, unless he was mine.

[ A blunt answer spoken with no preamble. The question is a reasonable one, and Xenk thinks his answer is reasonable too. It's not like Kirk hasn't tried to come onto him. It's been pretty mutual in that department, even if Kirk clearly just wants something dangerous from him. ]

While he is exceptional, [ which is to say, yes, Xenk wants to hit that, ] he is not without his vices. I must admit this is the one route through which he has allowed himself to be exploited.

[ Obviously not that hard, since he still hasn't made the switch!! ]