And that's what you're fighting against, isn't it? [ Naive, yes. Stupid? Never. Though he may regularly lack common sense and world experience, he can catch the obvious. He knows enough of Erik now. ] She should be able to flaunt it.

Or not flaunt it. Simply be it, and not have it be a big deal, right? Man, I cannot even imagine. It was always... a big deal. [ And then his eyes track the grain of wood over their table, as his thoughts spin to darker places. ] Or... worse. So there aren't people... putting numbers on her arm.