"I have never actually wanted to wear anyone's skin as clothing!"

"Also, if your plans involve murdering a hundred and one children in order to have a really good fur coat, I'm going to stop you."

"I don't think you have to worry about that. I—didn't really like hurting kids, even when I could hurt people."

Kiss. "I think if you're getting rid of half of people's personalities you're also a bad person, even if the person you're doing it to is bad. Just like putting people on a prison island and giving them garbage instead of food or medical supplies."

Kiss. Asher kisses are still so good. They are one of the best things.

"Yeah. I—even before, I didn't really... think about people being good or bad? It's not really a way I see the world. But... it seems important, if you're going to give me back the rest of me, you should know what he's like."

"Possibly someone who will have to go through Ben's rehabilitation program when it's set up?"

...he has to laugh, at that. "I'm not sure you want me in your rehabilitation program."

"Yes, we are trying to reserve it for the elites of society, such as that woman who tricked a sixteen-year-old girl into a contract in which she took the girl's voice 'because human men don't care if you can speak anyway.'"

Snort. "Not quite what I meant. I'm just—" but whatever thought he's having, he can't seem to complete it. He sighs and leans on Asher and hugs him.

"In your culture do children play the game 'hot or cold'?"

"—mm? Don't think so. What is it?"

"You hide an object, and when the person is getting closer to the object you say 'warm, warmer, hot, hot like Li Chen' and when they're getting farther from the object you say 'cool, cold, colder, frozen like Arendelle.'"

"...oh, that's clever."

"So if I say 'we don't want you in our rehabilitation program because there's actually no way to stop you from doing crimes other than this curse', can you say whether that's hot or cold?"

"Oh, I wish. Cold."

"Because you will fuck up the program somehow?"

"...warm...ish?"

"Because the program would fuck you up?"

Nod nod. "...that's not all of it but yeah."

"...I'm not going to let them do things to you that fuck you up."

...he smiles. "Okay."

"Ben wouldn't but-- I understand if that is not reassuring."

"Honestly I probably shouldn't be reassured by you making promises either, but... I am anyway." Snuggle.

"Do you want to play your first video game ever?"

"I only have the vaguest idea of what that is but sure."