[ it is true, he knows it, to be and it had been such an effortless thing to make for her. it was something he could be confident in, and he very much needed a straightforward thing to feel he was getting right. ]

I… wonder sometimes if me being without form is the only way I can exist that doesn’t hurt people to look at. That’s all.

[ that is… not “all,” but after a moment of hesitation, he finally manages something bordering on their normal: ]

That is not me fishing for anyone to tell me that I do not regularly hurt people’s eyes or am pretty enough.

[ a little dulled still, but it’s in there, he’s in there. here. ]