[ they'll be back, when lessa is gone. it's not as if set will allow himself to be guarded - his bird-brained nephew was trying, quite emphatically, and the idea of being protected now, after all that he had done and all he had suffered, felt rotten. a senseless expenditure of empathy, for someone who'd rather die than be stood over.

what lessa says, though - is oddly comforting. it gives set the room to come to terms with the fact that he must properly join with the kenoma, who he chose. imbibing in their dark substance is simply part of that choice -- it was the way they insisted, with their hands holding him and fingers in his hair... that was unappreciated. ]

It's been some time, since anyone bothered to drink with me.

[ drink anything, he means. not just drink the kenoma-cocktail.

as for the rest, he points both fingers to his face and wrinkles his expression like a thug when he utters haa?, rough and absolutely bemused. ]

No divinity has true youth, [ by way of explaining: ] You may be mistaking my divine appearance with something else.