[ For as much of an unabashed ninny as Hawke sometimes presents itself, he does occasionally listen; what this tells him is that she, like Aveline, is a widow; maybe like Aveline she's been alone for a very long time. Out of fear, of things that make an unfortunate amount of sense to him. That closeness means vulnerability, mean carving your own wounds and handing salt to other people. It never stops him, but he's...well, the joke he'd make is that he's a slow learner. ]

Anyone's future would be a little brighter with you alongside, I'd think.

[ And this is going to be ...awful, but he would rather she was angry with him, rather than keep telling "Jean-Luc" things he has no business hearing. He squeezes her hand, very gently, then puts it back on her own knee. ]

But you don't want to be telling me this. I'm Hawke, Beverly. We're crewmates. Your augment is malfunctioning, and you're prooobably about to hit me in the nose.

[ He braces! Why is he doing this again, he could have just played along. ]