He nods, because he gets that. He'd worked in various positions on the Barge to engender good opinions of himself, a half-dozen favors worth of good will he could call on if he needed them. Some of those people aren't here anymore, but he doesn't regret doing it. They might come back, after all.

"Do you think you can keep up with the pool, given the changes we made? I'm assuming they were so the place'd be more hospitable for you?"

But he keeps going, addressing the last.

"We're paired, that's true enough. But if you ever feel like you can't work with me? Or something I've done makes you uncomfortable... I would be willing to put in a request to unpair us. Now... I don't see that happening. And I don't want it to happen? And I can't think of something I'd want to do that I see you being upset by. But. I'll make that promise right now."