The look of confusion gets worse, this time, and starts to border a little on frustration. So far, compliance has been pretty easy (if clumsy) but Phalanx changes things up a bit by not immediately following along.

Words are difficult, but they try really hard anyway. It takes them a visible moment of focus before they manage it. And when they do, their voice is still soft, but there's an edge of insistence--not arguing, but gently stating as fact.

"Mine."