"If you'll indulge me. It's work, but it's more of a request than an order. You can say no."

He stops what he judges as a safe distance off, close enough to not be applying pressure, and stands with his hands stuffed into his pockets. Shrugs a little.

"You can listen then say no too. You can even make me pay for your listening time in coffee. This is your ground, not mine."

So it's her rules, and he doesn't want to throw his weight around about it. Guinevere had told him he didn't seem frightening even though he's a guardian, but he'd like to keep it that way. Head of guardian division could easily be a title that makes you head of the hired thugs, used the wrong way. He's sensitive to that.