[ Maybe not calm, but steady, reserved -- and above all, unwilling to initiate or escalate towards violence. Harold still doesn't move, but Bear gives a soft warning growl, uneasy.

Harold raises his eyebrows at him as he answers, waiting to see how far he's willing to push it. Backing away, retreating, is not the right impression to give. He's lived long enough in the dangerous criminal and black ops underworld to understand that completely. He's also just inherently stubborn, and no matter how scared he might actually be, Harold would never give way to an attempt to intimidate him. ]

We invented war to justify nation-building, not because anyone was sincerely trying to decide on anyone's worth, [ he retorts tartly. ]

Would you please cease with whatever test you are undertaking? My dog doesn't like it.