( He's aware of the gaze on him, but there's something unruffled about him as he smokes - or as unruffled as he can be with a baseline that teeters. ) A little of both. The weight of my execution would have fallen on his shoulders even as teenagers. We were strong. The strongest. The elders gorged themselves on that, as if they had a hand in producing us. And with my technique only Satoru could get close enough. I had curses that could cause a great deal of destruction. Useful, only when it was in their name.

( He shifts to look at Silco, smile boyish. )

I knew he'd kill me in the end. But if I was going to do something I would need the time to do it. In surviving I could build a world better for us. I still hoped one day I could. And then when everyone we loved was safe he could forgive me for the things I'd done to get there. I don't know why he never tracked me down. Truthfully, I don't even know what would have happened had I never shown back up.

( Another smoke-filled exhale. )

There is something truthfully hilarious about ripping a part of yourself out only to have to try and shove it back. It's one of my biggest qualms with LILITH. Neighbours. Can you imagine what that's like? Have you ever had a friend like that, Silco-san? Where it feels like they're a limb?