[The words – I have lived hundreds of lives - felt like an echo, a shadow of ones he had spat himself. It was bitter being faced with someone who had endured but was not an Ancient; he felt cheated by it. Could he believe him? Was this person telling the truth?

And yet, the items spoken of hit too close to the pieces Emet-Selch did not share. ]

Oh, how I appreciate your permission to not feel shame. [Which wasn’t…entirely it. The emotions were far more complicated, layered, than something so simple. They were not to be aired in a single meeting with someone who believes in their own infinite life.]

I can assure you that my image is something you do not need to concern yourself with. Especially when we were talking about you.

Humor me, if you will: where do you hail from?