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Fun hating, inappropriately authoritative, loathed. That's Eszti.

That's not a real apology -- it's an insignificant scrawl on a pre-vandalised note.

Juvenile, yes. Still makes you feel good.

Robbery attempt: foiled.

Dignity: in tatters.

That was happening anyway after the way you insulted her voice.

Hopefully for the right reasons.

His words are tinged with subtle disappointment.

It never even crossed his mind.

Suddenly, he realises, he doesn't know her at all.

He's desperately hoping you'll give him a good reason to let you step in.

Too cynical to consider it.

He believes the cliche, so it's his final word on the subject.

And because she'd rather be someone else.

The sheen of rain across the purple makes her image vivid, alive... realer than you.

The wind shimmers her image, making her vivid, alive... realer than you.

A theatrical sigh, as though the entire horizon were bearing down on him.

And now, so are you.

The respect is begrudging, but true.

Tonight while he lies in his squalid bed, he'll recite it to himself like a prayer.

You're simply doing what you were made to do. You can't expect him to understand.

This conversation is many levels beneath the cat. It knows what it thinks.

He seems surprised somehow, as if he willed it to materialise in his hands.

That's... that's none of his business.

He might cry later.

His upbringing, education, and other conditions outside of his control have made him who he is today... have patience.

Beneath his self-deprecating exterior there is something genuine -- sensitive, loving, hopeful.

This still carries some weight with him.

No smug self-satisfaction here -- just pride.

A psychologist would probably call this a side effect of being the object of violent loathing from birth.

He can't help her. He's tried.

The fantasy of the eternal studio-hang is more vivid in his mind than any actual 'production' that might occur there.

Glimmer of hope. Maybe she's been doing alright without you. Maybe she's figured herself out.

Karolina's never told him that Tempo was your asset, too.

He's genuinely proud of what he and Karolina are able to accomplish here.

One of the few people he can call anything close to a friend.

Sure, you could use that as an excuse for your ignorance. Or you could just admit that the Hershel of five years ago was somehow even more self-centred than the Hershel of today.

A scab across his heart he can't quite stop picking.

Nearly two decades gone, and he's still making his home in a cinema: a love that's never died.

Artificial, canned laughter.

The comparison to his sire is inevitable. He's resigned himself completely to the umbilical tie -- a noose, a lifeline.

Probably thinks you're a strip-o-gram.

In his tone there's a spark of excitement not sufficiently smothered by anger.

Eszti wasn't just trying to hurt you -- she was telling the truth.

He finds his girlfriend's dark past equal parts enraging and intriguing.

Your vanities are not so different.

Genuine appreciation for the old man's resilience, tinged with something like resentment.

Impressed and terrified by the lengths you'll go to to get what you want.

He is 100% stealing the imagery of his beloved's freakouts to use in a music video some day.

1,005 skill checks - ZERO PARADES field manual - Page 13 of 21