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Fear, hope -- and jealousy.

So far, his curiosity hasn't got the better of him. Not if would mean hurting her.

He wants you to tell him that it's not bullshit. He wants it to be real.

They took everything from her. Flesh, family. The safety of her own mind.

And yet... The one they all covet, valuable not despite its flaws, but because of them.

The reigniting of a custom you'd feared lost forever.

This moment, it's important to him. A re-kindling, maybe -- finding warmth among ashes grown cold.

'Did she just abandon us?'

Tell him it's true. Make him understand.

Don't let this get ugly. Not after what he told you about Vespar.

Are you really going to do this to him?

He's amused, but a part of him is hurt.

You feel the warmth of shared blood and smokes, in the aftermath. Heartbeats humming in tandem; every small, defiant smile its own flag.

To redeem the failures of your past.

Not exactly how you would be best described.

You may have his permission, but he probably didn't intend to extend his hospitality to you showing up in the middle of the night.

A tinge of mourning in his voice.

But that's Tonio... the building manager.

He is surprisingly jovial compared to when you first met him...

He knows it's impractical.

The wind whips her hair back and forth across her face. Between the strands -- flashes of your old friend, the same wild eyes, the same snarling grin.

The fresh wound splits back open.

And managing relationships.

He doesn't like being called 'the phone guy'.

Not his thing, personally.

Bags under his eyes, tense shoulders. Yes, this man is very, very tired of it all.

Mysterious Rustamian? Keeps to himself? Is this... Ramses?

A deep sigh of relief calming singed nerves.

A complete absence of conviction and enthusiasm. Words simply fell out of his mouth.

'One' meaning 'Reno', of course. Singular.

A flagrant misuse of man for his own gain.

He's less confident than he used to be. Pain is a great teacher.

Said without a trace of pride.

It's hard for him to remember.

An audience member at his own vivisection.

A guest at his own vivisection.

They moved out before garbage collection day, hoping to avoid another fine stacked atop the broken lease, the lost deposit, the month's rent half-wasted...

It all happened very quickly, once they'd made the decision to leave. In that moment, the priorities seemed clear.

Still, a part of him was hoping for a little more out of their private journey.

Apart from the girl around which it is built.

A face flashes on the underside of your mind -- expression stern behind a black cigarette. Yana needs to agree to this too.

He doesn't notice.

More than a trace of envy.

He tries to underplay it, jars the cadence.

But nothing he could easily forget. Push him a little.

Former enemies can often make the most loyal allies.

And you both know it.

A massive sign marked 'NONCE' flashes red in your mind.

1,005 skill checks - ZERO PARADES field manual - Page 14 of 21