Of course I know that, Donovan. [ He is almost offended by the idea that he wouldn't. Except he supposes there's all the difference in knowing something and acknowledging it. These are already complicated waters to tread in, where he's not sure if he's angry or just resigned or why or who at. It's no wonder nobody sat him down and caught him up instead of simply acting off.

He is going to think very carefully and be rational and diplomatic about this. All that good stuff. This is the sort of thing you have to speak of... tactfully. And honestly. Respectfully. ]

All of it. You thought it was the right thing to do, and I'd tell anyone to trust their instinct if they had the same situation. Even if I didn't strictly agree with it. [ Which is a bit of a light way to put it. It feels almost inadequate, but there aren't quite ways of saying maybe he was too close to the whole thing, maybe he should have passed it along to someone more objective and not gotten in deeper, maybe he should have been more professional. None that he can think of that doesn't feel like admitting some sort of ultimate defeat.

Too late to bother with "maybe" as it is. ] You did your job. It's only fair that you expected me to do mine properly, too.