"I did, did I? Mr. Dresden, in the future, do not accuse me of murder unless you are willing to answer for your own sins." His eyes unfocus, as John takes a half-second to remember the face of every person he's killed personally. The ones that get done in by his empire, who get in the way-- that's the price of doing business. But for every time John has pulled that trigger himself, he remembers. Nonetheless, he says in a quieter, private voice: "I sleep well at night. If you don't, I consider that a shame." And that is as kind as John will be on the topic.

John... blinks. He's offered it freely, perhaps in part to smooth the feathers he's just ruffled, but Dresden... Well. It does make sense. Gard's never found anything concrete regarding Dresden's connections to Winter, but everyone in the supernatural community knows that the wizard has tangled himself deep in Faerie, and on all sides. That he is still alive and relatively autonomous is a testament to how well Dresden plays the game.

John is quiet for a stretch of time, staring Dresden in the eye, making him watch. If Dresden is going to pull this, then he will watch John consider every angle and measure the weight of every favor he could extort from this man. What is being offered is piece of mind for Dresden with the caveat that he could use this token to control John or hurt him or even kill him. It's not cheap, and it's Dresden's own goddamn fault for blowing off a gift freely given without obligation.

Then.

John smiles, wide with his teeth, like something about to bite.

"I am too tired to dance, Harry," John says wickedly. "Say please."