I posted this elsewhere but Fjord is very skilled at doing this tactic where he goes: "I want to do this (sketchy thing no one wants to do) but shucks - I'm not sure, maybe not. It'll be quick, but what does everyone else think? (People are clearly ambivalent but don't want to shoot him down entirely.) Oh, it's okay? Well, I really appreciate that."

He's done it a bunch of times during this subplot. It seems like him deferring to the group but ends up with him getting to do the sketchy thing he wanted. I don't know if it's purposefully manipulative so much as just him being more charismatic and forceful than the group, so he can get his way when he makes his wishes known.