[ Even as the words slip from Rutile's mouth they know it is the wrong thing to say, and undeserved. There is no taking them back now, though.

After a while of silence, they continue, ]

There is nothing to forgive. The fault is mine. It has been a long time since I had my judgment questioned, that's all.

[ Which is still the easier thing to admit to. The harder thing - that perhaps they need their judgment questioned - is relegated to a tiny part of their mind where they can pretend it doesn't exist. The grin that spreads across their face is a reluctant one. ] But, that was always the point of having teams, wasn't it?