Sigma sighs and drops his hands onto his lap, defeated. What made the confrontation worse was having no way to defend himself save for a handful of piss-poor excuses and a promise of trust that he had not been afraid to break before. "Phi..." His tone begins apologetically before hardening into impatience. "You are already aware that the Nonary Game was played for a reason beyond what the players could understand." Though what she had said was not particularly rebellious, he flashes Phi a dark look, warning her that she was pushing her luck. Did she somehow expect a straight answer out of him under this surveillance? Oh, yes, I am privately working for the greater good in the face of a totalitarian government, shh, please keep it a secret? "I consider my work in Panem very important." Of course, when the smoke did clear, he may not find her as mollified as he'd hoped.

He reminds himself that this conversation wasn't supposed to be about his feelings - without any of the details she had every right to be angry, and Phi would want to be consoled by a person she had once considered a friend. For the sake of a good game, he was strictly forbidden from mentioning the possibility of resurrection to a newcomer, spoiled or not, but he wants to help where he can. "I didn't bring you here to compound your misery," he says slow and deliberately. "I want you to enjoy yourself, Phi. Can't you have some faith in me?" Even he knows he has not made a persuasive argument.