[So she figured it out, and refused to affirm any “humanity“ about him. A shame.

He only shifted back to a smile, that ever present smile that rarely seemed to reach his eyes. Admitting what he was would still be a risk, even if she had already gathered it for herself. It was nothing personal, it was as he’d explained before; all things are an exchange. This was a risk that he did not believe would have a fair payoff as it stood.]

That’s quite the accusation. Is it really so strange that I might worry how an old friend would be treated, should he arrive here?

I’m merely a human who grew up by the sea with my brother.

[This was the first outright lie he’d told as well. He’d never claimed to be human before. Everything thus far has been a mix of half-truths and clever lies of omission.

He wanted her to know it was a lie this time. A very deliberate lie.]