There is time enough for one response before the little tea party comes to an end. Two, in fact. Another smile passes across Bella's face: less amused this time, but just as genuine. This is kindness born from pain. This is warmth born from sadness. She can't use it in place of an apology, because it isn't one. What good would that do her, after everything she's done? This is resigned acknowledgement; that she's heard what she's been expecting to hear this entire time, and now she will take her permission to melt into the shadows and disappear forever. 

The second response must be a thank you, then. Bella sits and waits for Dolce to meet her eyes again, even though it probably costs her a chance to escape. Even though it takes enough time to leave an awkward silence in the air, she sits patiently and watches for him to finally look up from his tea. He needs to see. He needs to watch her screw her eyelid shut tight over her Auspex until she's staring at him through just one mortal eye, looking like an exhausted traveler staring into the sun. It's important, so he'll know the reason the pressure suddenly abates. That he knows that she knows: she was too much. She is sealing herself off for his benefit.

"Hey, Redana~"

She swings that playful tone like a sword. Not even turning to look, she rises from her chair with supreme confidence. She can smell the bewilderment all over her princess, after all. This light bit of teasing is all it will take to make her freeze up long enough to let Bella disappear again. She'll do a better job of it this time. It's an empty as fuck ship, all she needs to do is bend away from the sounds of people this time. No more projects. No more tea. No more--

She feels the hand clamp around her wrist before she makes it two steps. Bella snarls, and whirls about to scream obscenities, but they die on her lips. Prion Paula smiles at her, and holds up the forgotten wine glass. She's even filled it, as if to prove that signature was stronger than any drink. In Bella's hand it feels more like a chain. She's trapped. Trapped again. If only the thought of bolting didn't make her feel sick. She sighs, and takes a tiny sip from the opposite end of the glass from her treasure.

"They're filming a sequel to my favorite movie here."

The teasing confidence is gone from her voice. She still has her eye squeezed shut like an idiot, but it's turned on the wrong target now. Her back stiffens and her tail wraps itself around her thigh. She reaches behind her to lift her sea-soaked hair off her neck for a moment, and lets it fall again with a wet slap. Her eye darts to Redana's hair again and again, no matter how many times she tries to direct it elsewhere. Red opens again, to duel with Green.

"Your captain was just inviting me to review the set. You know, to show there's no bad blood. So generous of him; if the gods had been a little kinder to me these last few months you can bet I'd..."

She lets the threat fall silent, unfinished. Her fingers play around the stem of her glass, the smooth, cool roundness only felt across her fingertips because of her lack of talons these days. She frowns, and worries at her dress.

"...You kept that braid in. You mor-- Princess, please put more care into your appearance. A sloppy thing like that doesn't suit you."