My head? I admire your optimism. [xichen smiles, meaning it.

he is normally the one to bring optimism to the conversation, but lately that has been harder to find. the mission is wearing into him more quickly than he'd anticipated.

he nods at the assessment, lips turning upward in almost a sad smile at that.] There is at least the bright side then. Hopefully we are not here too long to get used to it. [xichen looks out at the flames of the fire nearby, watching them for a moment.] There are plenty of dangers that could lie ahead.