Charlotte put on her most innocent expression, the one she saved for the very most special occasions because of how much work it took, and smiled sweetly at Inara. "Churlish? Never. John has always been the embodiment of sweetness and--" No, she couldn't do it. Not when the first few times they'd spoken had ended with snapping at each other and very nearly thrown computers. "He is, I fear, a man of strong feeling. When he decides a conversation is over, he'll end it how he has to. Including name calling and stony silences."

She shook her head, exhaling slowly. "He hates not knowing and there's only so much I can tell him." And less that she would. "He wouldn't like knowing, either, of course." She glanced over at Inara, lowering her voice to a troubled whisper. "Did he-- Was it very horrible?" She couldn't bring herself to ask flat out if Asher had assaulted Inara in the same way she had been.