[ it's only because he's a Stargazer that the impression Claude gets is something black and cold. from across the distance he allows, there is an overlapping image that can exist in the Communion space: not Ruby by herself, but clutched in Set's warm embrace and, at the same time, clinging to Gen's dark presence. over Set's shoulder, from where she hides her face against Gen's side—

she is glaring at him. it's the wary gaze of a wounded animal. ]

It's fine. It isn't the first time. I'm sure it won't be the last.

[ and it does seem to be "fine," in the sense that she isn't disappointed. Claude can feel, in that darkness, that she never expected anyone to speak up in her defence in the first place. so there's nobody to blame. ]

It's my fault. I should have just kept my mouth shut. I'm sorry I caused trouble.