"I'm a delightful conversation partner, true."

"With fascinating insight."

"Only a match for my own partner."

"I appreciate the compliment."

"Is it a compliment if it's true?"

"That depends on the reception."

"You seem to have received it well."

"I prefer to look for the positive spin."

"An optimist?"

"More like... a politician."

She giggles. "I'm a lot more sincere than that, you'll find."

"That's one characteristic of yours that does not change."

" - Have other things changed? Between me and - the other loops."

"You seem- happier, this time."

"...That - "

"I dunno what it'd take to make me unhappy. I'm... Pretty resilient."

Unless something is going to happen to El in the next few weeks.

" - Did they tell you what happened?

"No. As I said, there was not much time for talk."

"What happened?"

"I am... unsure how much to tell you. What you said was- 'there always has to be a sacrifice for truth'."

"What did I do?"

"You died. To protect me."

"Oh."

(That sounds unlike her, too. She wouldn't leave El alone, ever.)

(But... She doesn't know what those futures held.)

"I'm sorry."

It's hard to mentally work through, to look at neutrally, but...

"Did I - did she know about the time loops?"

"They never said."

Hum.

(...She's going to need to ask her Truth tonight, assuming she sees the gate-world again and the time loop hasn't messed with that, if the strange being knows anything - )

Truth requires sacrifice.

Bellona glances around subtly, to see if any of her teammates are still in ear shot or if they've left to canvas the area as originally planned.