“. . . you know who Polworth is?" "Your best mate," said Robin. "He's my oldest mate," Strike corrected her. "My best mate . . . " For a split second he wondered whether he was going to say it, but the whisky had lifted the guard he usually kept upon himself: why not say it, why not let go? " . . . is you." Robin was so amazed, she couldn't speak. Never, in four years, had Strike come close to telling her what she was to him. Fondness had had to be deduced from offhand comments, small kindnesses, awkward silences or gestures forced from him under stress. She'd only once before felt as she did now, and the unexpected gift that had engendered the feeling had been a sapphire and diamond ring, which she'd left behind when she walked out on the man who'd given it to her. She wanted to make some kind of return, but for a moment or two, her throat felt too constricted. "I . . . well, the feeling's mutual," she said, trying not to sound too happy.” FriendshipRelationshipDialogueBest FriendsCharacter DevelopmentOtpRelationship Growth Book:Troubled Blood Source: Troubled Blood
“I was nearly christened Eric Bloom Strike,' he said and Robin choked on her water. He laughed as she coughed into a napkin. 'Let's face it, Cormoran's not much bloody better. Cormoran Blue—' 'Blue?' 'Blue Öyster Cult, aren't you listening?' 'God,' said Robin. 'You keep that quiet.' 'Wouldn't you?” HumorDialogueCormoran StrikeRobert GalbraithRobin EllacottCormoran And RobinMiddle NameBlue Oyster Cult Book:Career of Evil Source: Career of Evil
“Well," said Robin at last, "again, in future, maybe we could try the talking thing, before you die of a stress-induced heart attack or, you know end up killing someone we need to question?" Strike grinned ruefully. "Yeah. We could try that, I s'pose . . . " Silence closed around them again, a silence that seemed to the slightly drunk Strike to thicken like honey, comforting and sweet, but slightly dangerous if you sank too far into it. Full of whisky, contrition and a powerful feeling he preferred at all times not to dwell upon, he wanted to make some kind of statement about Robin's kindness and tact, but all the words that occurred to him seemed clumsy and unserviceable: he wanted to express something of the truth, but the truth was dangerous.” DialogueUnspoken FeelingsCompanionable Silence Book:Troubled Blood Source: Troubled Blood