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Afflicted by that odd loneliness that comes from seeing and knowing a lot that you can't do much about.

Everyone else here is actively avoiding him.

Better to go along with this. You'll have a stronger chance of pulling him clear of this psychological wreckage.

He's hurt by that direct accusation, even though it's his own working theory.

You would be well within your right to leave him down here.

Surely you'll be able to tell which is Eszti's drawer from the contents? Cigarette butts, poker chips, crochet patterns...

Eszti, married? This can only be a desperate attempt to blend in. Not like a real husband.

You know this isn't better, that's why you didn't choose it for yourself.

Still nothing. This is who you chose to save.

He's trying his best to trust you.

Callous... but KALEIDOSCOPE did murder him.

Hershel... Now he's going to lose his mind trying to activate nonexistent beetle powers.

They frequently lost fingers to frostbite in the Mircean winter, and wore their absence like trophies.

You can practically feel the fetid water sloshing about his feet.

A little impressed, a little disturbed.

He phrases it like he's asking if you'll be over for tea next week. It doesn't hide his desperation.

Underneath his speechifying you detect a melancholic tinge, a shadow on the mirror's surface.

Even through the distorted connection, you can feel him weighing his next words.

She's not yet entirely convinced that you are 'normal people'.

He wouldn't have willingly given up a career that meant so much to him.

He misses this version of her the most.

Rendered a non-person for her betrayal.

Encoded by a frenzied hand.

With fear, or maybe rage that the past should repeat itself so shamelessly.

Pride. He wants you to know he saw you enter the shack, and he wants you to know what you saw was his work.

No attempt to deflect or deny. He takes it all into himself like a landslide.

The first genuine response you have elicited from him at all.

It's an extinction level event for your crew if Karolina finds out he's here. You cannot let her see him.

Your asset loses control over herself in ways no one can predict.

Your adversary's grudging acknowledgement is the greatest compliment you can receive.

Profound indifference exudes from him.

A genuine question.

Fair play, he thinks. If this is to be his final performance, at least it's a big stage.

If this were a trap then he wouldn't have been so cagey about his client.

Eszti's territorial. Walking into her apartment was a trespass. She'd have no reason to be here.

After all these years perhaps they've developed some notion of society, even religion. Open your mind to their theologies and they may accept you as their own.

Disbelief that anybody would do anything so vulgar as know this man.

She's seething. This could go very poorly.

More curious than horrified, interestingly enough.

She's going to eviscerate you later.

See -- he has a soul.

Firm but gentle. She doesn't envy you the choice.

She pauses for a moment of internal gloating.

Piqued, can't help herself.

No mystery as to who he wants getting down on their hands and knees.

How does it feel to come face-to-face with yourself?

Help your double accept himself for who he is.

Best to play along.

He's taken offense.

1,054 skill checks - ZERO PARADES field manual - Page 17 of 22