Much as Argento likes Collision, he still doesn’t know him particularly well. Whatever he has garnered of the stallion’s personality is leftover from the day they had met, as well as any chance sightings Gent has had of him. Otherwise, Gent has mostly had to rely on his own impressions and assumptions. For instance, what he had assumed was that Collision would either laugh at his sarcastic mark or let it slide. Instead, Collision frowns and addresses Gent’s foul mood head-on. This gives Gent pause, and for a moment he looks at Collision with a sheepish expression, uncertain how to respond. While he mentally fumbles, he gives his sodden black mane a shake.

“Nothing important,” he says evasively. “I think maybe the weather has dampened my spirits, so to speak.” Gent flashes a half-hearted smile at his own pun.

He twists his ears forward to listen as Collision explains his own thoughts on the current events in the Lagoon. At first Gent’s heart sinks to hear Collision say he is “eager” for the war - that had been something Gent was afraid of, and for a moment his opinion of the stallion suffers - but then Collision goes on to reveal his doubts, and Gent feels a bubble of hope swell within his chest. This, this Gent can work with.

He snorts and his blue eyes take on an uncharacteristic steeliness. “Truth be told, I think it would be abnormal for you to not question things like that. A mind cannot be sharp without being enquiring.” Gent falls quiet for a few moments, eyeing Collision and mulling something over. He knows he needs to be careful what he says, lest anything get back to Cullen, but Collision’s honesty has inspired him, and besides, it’s unlikely anyone will be able to eavesdrop on them with the rain creating such a racket.

“At the risk of sounding like an old fart, the Lagoon I see today is… very different from the one I knew in my youth. Back then the bachelors were troublemakers, to be sure, and there were definitely a few bad apples, but we were ultimately harmless. We did not get involved in the affairs of the herds other than to stir up mischief. Now, though…” Gent shakes his head, and water droplets fly from his chin. “Let me ask you a blunt question, Collision. Would you die for Cullen’s cause? If not… why fight for him? Why risk your life? You’ve got a good head on your shoulders: one I’ve become rather fond of, and would hate to see detached.”

Gent’s expression had softened in the course of his speech, and now he looks at Collision with an earnest, almost pleading expression, though - being quite self-aware of the comic morbidness of his last statement - the ghost of a smile still plays at the corner of his mouth.