[For what it's worth, Iago's reaction throws Dist off too. This is extremely awkward all around.]

Well...yes. You have been good to me, after all. Isn't it natural that I would come to care about you in return?

[He asks that, but it sounds as if he isn't even sure himself. But he felt the same way when Anise showed him kindness- he made sure he looked out for her too. Maybe his threshold for friendship is lower than others', he doesn't really know. But it feels right to him.

As for the trial...Dist crosses his arms and slumps back in the chair a little. He's definitely still upset about having to reveal his power, that much is true.]

I admit that I panicked. I could have taken a similar stance as you had, yet...I crumpled under the pressure. While it is true that you were in a position of obvious innocence, we've spoken about the possibility of desperation votes. I refuse to be one of those desperation votes.

[Just like back home, he's sure he's not popular among this group. And as a fellow petty person, he knows how little reason people will need to vote for someone unrelated as long as it's not them. He knows full well how his own stance could be turned on him.]