"Yes," Kate replies, because that's how this is going to be. The laugh in Johanna's tone translates, and to her surprise she finds herself grinning. "And then you're gonna show me how to throw that axe. Business after pleasure, remember?" It's a tease and a taunt, shamelessly goading, throwing Johanna's words back in her face but with too much of a laugh suddenly in her throat to be mean, exactly. Ballsy is pretty spot on.

It's not an easy position to hold, as much as her bantering might suggest otherwise. Johanna pulling against it makes it easier in one way but harder in another, and Kate is forced to sacrifice a little of the clamp around her throat in exchange for just holding on at all. She's been using her arms for balance, out to each side by her hips, but reaches up now to throw them around Johanna's back and pull down against her upward pressure.