[ Of course he'd make excuses. What choice does he have? Aline certainly wouldn't have created him with the ability to disapprove of her actions. Not deeply. Even the man's agreement to collaborate with Clea had been based on him thinking it would be better for Aline's family. Not out of negative emotions.

How complicated are his emotions allowed to be? Can he look at Alicia and somehow simultaneously be so worried for her future that it makes his stomach roil but also resent her for the cost her foolishness has had? Could he understand Renoir's decisions and simultaneously hate him for abandonment? When he thinks of Aline, does he only worry without also being angry that she spent their lives teaching them lessons she abandoned when the pain reached her?

Can he resent Clea for being the daughter their parents said they wanted while somehow still always being there when she'd needed it?

She doesn't know.

Clea snorts at his retort. ]

You're right. I left out part of the truth: I'm actually an immortal vampire. We're all vampires. Aline is self-conscious about the fangs; that's why you do not have them. And why there are almost no mirrors in the Canvas outside of Lumiere.

[Not at all because she'd found mirrors too difficult to Paint at the time, so she and Verso had shrugged and decided they weren't that important.

It's good that he gave her an honest answer. Well. She can't know that. He is based on Verso. But he doesn't patronize her, or reassure her that everything will be okay. Still, though, there's a naivety to his answer that unsettles her. A conversation? It will take much more than a conversation to begin to repair what has happened.]

The Gestrals barely have a concept of time and you still can't make it?

[She eyes him up and down again with a practiced, judging eye.]

Distinct and good are two entirely different concepts, Verso. Though I agree: You could look worse. You could be completely bald.