"At that point, I accepted anything that'd draw me out of the city. Corwin took me aside and told me not to let it eat my soul."

He traces a pattern on Ramon's skin, with the very tips of his fingers.

"Oberon, when I was very small, used to keep me on his lap, when he was in a particularly dangerous political meeting. Someone finally pointed out that this wasn't because he was particularly affectionate. It was a bid on the fact that the assassins in the room wouldn't risk hitting a four year old. This rather changed my impression of things, when it was discovered. I still wanted his approval..."

He takes a long drag of the cigarette, and sighs.

"...and I thought being like him would probably get me it. So that's what I started doing. Thank God for Cor, huh?"