Saki paused for a few moments, catching her breath, internal thoughts whirring. When she spoke again, her voice was calmer, more diplomatic, gentler. No time for the man to have a breakdown.
She didn't think Algaria was helping. The team couldn't come unraveled just now, and Saki had to reach an accord before it was too late. She wasn't sure if any of them could survive down here long alone.
Algaria looked unimpressed.
"You have enough brains to work out to run on your own, don't you? If we'd stopped to shout at you to move, we all might have been maggot chow by now."
She made sure to step closer to John and hold his gaze. Hell, she'd even hold his hand if he needed it, not above using her womanly charms. She needed him to trust and work with them...at least until they got out of this cavern.
"It's not really about that Algaria. He doesn't trust us, which is fair enough...in our line of business, trust is a precious thing.
John...I admit, I haven't been thinking much about the welfare of anyone else-I've been too busy worrying about my own hide. That's how it is, when you've only got yourself to rely on. I wasn't thinking of you when I reacted...I've been on my on my own for a long time, you must understand. I'm good at seeming calm and collected, but I'm really quite afraid. I'm afraid of getting caught again, or worse. Afraid of relying on people. Afraid of seeing someone as a friend and watching them die, or trusting them and having them betray you. I've not learned not to care...it's not a good way to live, but is living. Algaria is the same way, though I doubt she will admit it.
What I mean to say is, it's not personal. I didn't mean for you to be hurt or left behind...I'm sorry, okay? I'll promise to watch your back from here on out...if you promise to watch mine. And, we need that right now, don't we? We need to work together, to watch each others backs." She motions to the dark passageway they are entombed in (for lack of a better word) as if that is all the further explanation needed.
Action: Diplomacy Check!