[Winter can't say she approves of many of the guardians or their deputies. Haller is fine enough, she supposes, but in general they tend to be a prickly bunch with fragile egos. Not exactly the type of people she would elect, so she'll likely cast her vote against the incumbents come the next election term. A shame they can't vote for the deputies as well, since some of the guardians would likely improve without such sycophantic underlings.]

[She keeps her barbed opinions to herself, quietly drinking her tea as she listens to her father. She smiles slightly, a hint of affection reflected in her face. After all, Winter has had time to let her bitterness soften in the passing years. Jacques seems to have smoothed down the feathers she ruffled when she departed.]

[An incorrect assumption, but it's not as if Ironwood has passed on his arguments with Jacques to Winter.]

They could all stand to improve, drastically so in some cases. But I suppose the same could be said of all of us.

[One generic potshot, diplomatically altered.]

Whitley seems to be coping well with his change in situation. You must be very pleased. The boy is practically a business prodigy.