<em>- Bo at dinner with others -<br/></em><br/><br/>Bo leaned back in his seat, sitting straight backed with his one hand laying lightly on the table, the other flat in his lap.  His head was turned, so that he could see Vince over the back of Mari's head as the man spoke.  Bo wasn't sure what to expect from Vince in that moment, and that lack of expectation helped him to realize how much he still needed to learn about the others around the table.  He reminded himself that first impressions, when everyone was still nervously excited, were not reliable.  Vince's assumption that Bo had been trying to set rules, rather than simply offering an opinion, offered another possible reason why the fellow had bristled so.  Perhaps it was a peek into his character, a man not given easily to rules and restraints.  Bo had spent the better part of his life adhering to rules and regulations of one sort or another, though in the red mist of combat such rules were sometimes skirted by necessity.  The coming together of six strangers to meld and form bonds of common benefit could also be a time to let the rules flex, at least in the way he projected his own expectations.  A reason to allow the line to grey within himself had not yet risen here in this group, but as Nicci spoke aloud many of his own thoughts in her sweet and gentle way, he felt himself creating justifications for perhaps relaxing his stance temporarily.  For the benefit of the group, after all.<em>Or</em>, he thought, regarding Nicci more closely,<em> for the benefit of himself.</em><br/><br/>Searching Mila's face and hearing Marcus's contribution to the toast, Bo realized that Mila was being comforted in some manner and took heart in that.  He was eager to offer some of his own.  And he knew that the accusation of her being a whore hadn't been the intended aim of his remarks, but something inside her had apparently caused her to think otherwise.  That peaked his curiosity and stirred the protective instinct inside, as he felt a sudden wave of sympathy.  For now, he thought that the reassurance from Marcus would have to suffice, and he was glad for it, for her sake.  Then she raised her eyes to meet his own for just a moment before offering her own toast, "respect."  Bo saw in those soft eyes in that instant a flash of courage.  She  missed his smile of agreement as her gaze went down the table.<br/><br/>His eyes still caressing Mila's dignified expression, Bo felt Mari stir to his left as she lifted her water glass.  Smiling at her choice of drink, he relaxed, placing his left hand casually on the back of her chair as he reached for his own water glass and tapped it lightly against hers.  His eyes sparkled as he considered her for a moment, hoping that his shift in posture would help ease her own tension.  Mari's words just moments ago, mixed with her sudden silence at Vince's challenge, brought to Bo's mind the image of a snapping turtle suddenly diving all of its appendages into its shell.   He wondered briefly if they could find a shell large enough for six.  Though with luck, and some work, they may become a place of safe comfort for each other without the need for armor.  With that thought playing through his mind, he turned his gaze back to Mila.  Lifting his glass of water slightly, he simply repeated, "respect."  His tone softened.  Then he added, "and the security of understanding."<br/><br/><br/>