[ There's something. A crack, a slip, but too easy, Wash knows that tactic too damned well, but if that's what Byerly's doing then Wash has never done it half as well as he is. A man needs to make his money somehow, a Municipal Guard, playing at being some criminal, some dealer? Wash is a damned Outsider, wouldn't give a damn about whatever back-alley dealings Byerly may or may not have had in his that-a-ways. Byerly ought to know that.
He'll tuck that away, still. Something to remember. Wash's expression is completely unchanged, still watching him just as carefully, just as warily, completely open about how closely he's studying him, how much he's reading even the way his eyes crinkle when he laughs. Slightly nervous, but humored enough, god, he really is good, this could be fucking nothing, Wash, it's probably nothing, get over yourself.
This isn't nothing. It's something, something he'll remember and figure out and puzzle out, and after a moment to consider all he really does in answer is lean back just a little more, letting his eyes sweep over him, regarding him carefully, warily, with the same suspicious eye as before -- and careful, calculated, Wash allows himself the slightest smile, a satisfied little upward quirk at the corner of his mouth. As if he did find something.
He's a good enough liar himself. Not nearly Byerly, but he still spent years and years of his life playing the fool. ]
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He'll tuck that away, still. Something to remember. Wash's expression is completely unchanged, still watching him just as carefully, just as warily, completely open about how closely he's studying him, how much he's reading even the way his eyes crinkle when he laughs. Slightly nervous, but humored enough, god, he really is good, this could be fucking nothing, Wash, it's probably nothing, get over yourself.
This isn't nothing. It's something, something he'll remember and figure out and puzzle out, and after a moment to consider all he really does in answer is lean back just a little more, letting his eyes sweep over him, regarding him carefully, warily, with the same suspicious eye as before -- and careful, calculated, Wash allows himself the slightest smile, a satisfied little upward quirk at the corner of his mouth. As if he did find something.
He's a good enough liar himself. Not nearly Byerly, but he still spent years and years of his life playing the fool. ]