[As he raises his head his eyes are dark and the air turns cold. Darkness wraps around his neck, producing a long chain that falls past his knees. He's shades older, wilder looking. He straightens up as the black backjacket and dark pants replace his other clothes.] But for the sake of hope, I guess it's a small price to pay. Mm?

It's almost relaxing to know whatever you do now...is completely outside the script. [Despair washes out from him like the sea rushing over the shore. It's calculated. He has nothing to gain or lose if she's normal. But every card to snatch up if she isn't.]

Of course I'm not exactly dead, but...I've still fallen off the chess board. It's fine. I was prepared to be a stepping stone for what is to follow.