That gets a humorless and short laugh at that, letting his gaze pull away from Dirk for a moment, it almost seems like he's going to just ignore him. Maybe try to go back to sleep. However, after a beat of a moment, he speaks up.

"You should listen to him." He offers quietly, "there is wisdom in experience, and none have more than he when it concerns me."

He turns his eyes back to Dirk, giving him a soft smile, "though I should hope that you did not enter this partnership with me under the misapprehension that I am merely your subordinate, and that we are not equals. 'Twould be rather folly to believe as such, especially now."