[--before he sucks in a breath through his nose, mouth thinning into a line, jaw clenching slightly]

I don't know, not for sure. But Stella seems to like you and you seem to get along okay. You get things about her in ways that I don't. [he doesn't like admitting that, but if it might get Zenos to agree--]

So. I'm not sure, but I'm trying anyway.