[—huh. Well. She's been sitting here trying to babble her way out of being direct and he calls her clever, and she looks kind of startled.]

Oh. [????? approval?????? compliments??????? It takes another second, but she brightens.] Thanks.

["Kinda." This should confuse her more than it does, but nope, she's been there—or, y'know, in that general vicinity—too, so she's watching him with her head tilted just so, curious but not enough to push the subject when he's trying to change it.]

Maybe. Maybe they're hidden way deep in the ship somewhere. Or they're off watching everything from a far-off control room or something.