Irene knows better than to fall for effortless charm, because she's usually on the other side of that particular equation, happily drawing people in.

"How noble," she says, sounding thoughtful. There might be something subtly surprised in her tone- Irene doesn't meet many noble people, after all- but it's far from overt. "It was just your wording. From the information-" propaganda "-given to us, it seems 'becoming content' in Baedal is the whole idea." And his determined refusal is fascinating, even if his plans only involve charity.

The waitress returns with coffee, and Irene gives her a smile- "Ah, lovely." She looks very predatory, but there's a self-aware wryness that suggests that it's alright, relax, she's the good sort of slightly scary. (This is a complicated act, and absolutely not true). "Thank you, Amanda." Name tags are wonderful things.