[When you've never been allowed to make personal connections, the first ones you ever make do kinda tend to feel more significant. It's hard not to put them ahead of regular people. Thankfully, by now, most of them are either safely tucked into the Invincible, or else verified awake and looking after themselves all right.

The Soldier stops at the sight of another body out in the night, adding up the height and shape and long coat and the tip of the sword, even in the dim light, to a total that means "Inspector Javert". They unclench the metal arm, shifting into an attentive parade rest at the approach, gaze going into the diffuse alert-but-not-looking-it stare that makes it easier to avoid eye contact without picking a specific place to stare.

They shake their head at the word, rather than answering aloud. Nothing obvious. Not yet, anyway.]