[ He doesn't believe it, but it matters that By says it. It makes his smile come back anyway. ]
Too bad for them.
[ Byerly's finger almost tickles. The urge to squirm comes out through his feet, and he wiggles his toes under Whiskey's warm weight. ]
No, I don't think anyone cares. [ Which is almost worse, isn't it, than if they were horrified? Having secrets at least lets a fellow pretend he could be interesting if he wanted to be. ] It only made me feel a bit naked. And defeated. I wanted—after the war, you know, I wanted to be able to help you with your intrigue. But it's alright now.
[ That's not true. And he's dedicated enough to his long streak of not lying to Byerly to walk it back, just a bit: ]
no subject
Too bad for them.
[ Byerly's finger almost tickles. The urge to squirm comes out through his feet, and he wiggles his toes under Whiskey's warm weight. ]
No, I don't think anyone cares. [ Which is almost worse, isn't it, than if they were horrified? Having secrets at least lets a fellow pretend he could be interesting if he wanted to be. ] It only made me feel a bit naked. And defeated. I wanted—after the war, you know, I wanted to be able to help you with your intrigue. But it's alright now.
[ That's not true. And he's dedicated enough to his long streak of not lying to Byerly to walk it back, just a bit: ]
Mostly. It will be.