(Lucretia sighs, and kneads her knuckles into her forehead slowly.) Please don't say 'pegged' and 'Merle' and 'plants' in the same sentence.

(But it's too late, and Taako isn't looking at her. He's gently picking at the scales on his leg and she knows that he's nervous. She can read him, now. They've been together for a century, even if he doesn't know that yet. She settles down, puffing out her cheeks and then exhaling slowly.)

You're not dumb, Taako.

(She nudges her shoulder gently against his for a second time.) You're just hopeful, that's all. There's nothing wrong with that.