[ Van Zieks offers a sigh in commiseration at the mention of the Department's own contribution. The fact that putting on a celebration of public indecency was meant as a reward for the keepers of order is still messing with his mind a little.

Putting aside absolutely everything about their underlying moral principles, Stronghart still remains the person who shares his mundane sensibilities the closest - an unfortunate piece of comforting familiarity.

Is it that, which makes him decide not to dismiss Stronghart's inquiry into further conversation? Just some twisted sense of homesickness, of longing for a world that makes more sense to him?

He's not really looking at Stronghart as he speaks, but they are standing just close enough that it doesn't seem to matter anyway. ]

For a long time I have not allowed myself to reflect on the Genshin Asogi I thought I knew. Of course, it is largely thanks to your interference that my memory of him has been warped into a monstrous caricature...

[ Where he'd sound full of hurt and range and contempt in a different context, he just sounds matter-of-fact and kind of exhausted now. ]

I am free to mourn him now, for the first time. I do not know if I desire to.