[ Yuri hums, a soft and thoughtful sound caught in his throat, as he considers his answer to that. It seems to him that he's had different opportunities to know people than the man Dimitri knows, or would like to know.

If their early years are much the same, doubtless it would mean they aren't all that different. Up to what point, though? The war has spanned longer, by Dimitri's account, so that meant... Well, that could wait. ]

Honestly? Most of what I know is peripheral — he's a busy man. Maybe too busy for his own good, but he's got a little squadron of friends who cart him off to bed, or swipe his paperwork to do themselves, or cajole him into meals... Some of my men joined the army well before I did, so I heard all about it.

[ And from the sound of it, they'd sung his praised well in advance of his joining them. It means he's had eyes and ears there well before he'd been on the scene himself, before he ever knew he'd be there at all.

He glances Dimitri's way, his own slant of a smile wry around its edges. ]

I'd say that, on a personal level? I've only seen who he really is recently. But it's enough to know he's a good man.

[ One he actually, genuinely believes in. ]

Don't know if he trusts me, but he said he'd like to.

[ That might mean more to Dimitri than it would to someone else, as indication went. ]