"Sure. I'm certain that is it," he said with a nod, turning to look at the other man. "I'm sure it's purely about exhaustion. What else could it be," he asked, as if he didn't know exactly what it could be and what it might be about. They both knew exactly what it was about. Arthur and his blood.

Yet even the honesty made things easier than he might have thought. He was being open about who and what he was. He was sharing this with another. Suddenly the world wasn't nearly as hollow, nearly as dark despite knowing it changed nothing of him living in shadows and darkness.

"Well, I'm willing to listen," he said, giving him a half smile. "But I won't ask. If and when you're willing to talk about it, you will. Or you'll be forced into it. That said, I feel almost glad I was forced into it," he admitted.