"I should make myself more available to you," is a glancing remark, off the cuff. A minor acknowledgement of something to be done in the future; it might have followed after any morning or evening's discussion of how they might arrange their shared tasks.

It is not quite aligned with the conversation at hand, what John is circling and needling his way towards.

In fairness, John is thinking the whole of it through himself, as Flint gives up answers readily to each question posed.

"Do you imagine you'll rely on your newly acquired skill, when we must rote our quarry in that alley?"

There's no reason to pretend the evening's work is going to be resolved quietly.