Well, actually, sometimes Duncan's intelligence *is* manipulative (Gina de Valicourt and Amanda come to mind immediately), but you're right. He's being damn smart and sympathetic here. Because yeah, he's going to have to get peaceful relations established or he's just going to get shot again!

::thoughtful:: Knowing Duncan... offer to help John check to make sure this one's dead? And then offer any tips he's picked up? And then *not* go along on anything else, because it would make John paranoid, although that'll drive Duncan nuts since he likes fixing problems....

(And if none of this is any help, delete it, of course!)