[It could be arranged, but Ikki won't allow it, Hyoga is his pet, even if he fails at showing how much he cares and all. He fails at it with his own brother, so it's not really a surprise. Ikki tenses and basically bits his tongue from answering to the comment about Athena's vessels. It's pointless to say what he really thinks of that.]

Conversation fodder, is conversing that important? Actions often speak louder than words. They usually have more meaning than words as well.

["A life without the burden of the Cloth". The answer is immediate and defensive, barely letting Shion finish his question.]

I am the Phoenix Saint.

[And that's final. There's no other life for him, there couldn't be and he doesn't want it, even if he didn't want the Cloth either, it's the life he got and he won't turn back from it. Despite how many times he wishes he could just stop and die.]