Years of practice put Arthur in a position of presenting a mask, one that was polished and perfect. Clarkie seemed to have a way of crumbling that entirely. Like he had just done.

"Exactly. Of course, you get this far by shutting everyone out as well," he said softly. "You've changed that in a day," he added. There was a hint of confusion there, not sure what to think about how much of his mask Clarkie had shattered.