[ Iris says nothing. Not at first, anyway.

She merely looks Cassandra up and down with that dreadfully cold, searching gaze of hers – the one she can't warm up, no matter how she tries. Right now it's probing, feeling out the chinks in Cassandra's armor and most importantly of all, trying to find some reason, any reason at all to find that she can't be trusted.

Iris finds nothing at all. It's somehow both a relief and a disappointment. She lets loose a breath she hadn't been fully aware she'd been holding and taps the desk lightly – an invitation for Cassandra to take the seat opposite her.

Like equals.

Or co-conspirators. ]

... A thought for a thought. We shall conduct ourselves as such, if that is acceptable to you.

[ She doesn't wait for Cassandra to reply before she continues. ]

I am tired. Of this dreadful game, and of looking at all those faces during the week and wondering which of them will try to throw us all to the wolves this time. What it might take for you or myself to try and do the same.

[ She inclines her head towards Cassandra in an unspoken invitation – your turn. ]