"No idea. He's told me at least ten different stories about it by now. Only thing I'm reasonably certain of is that he evened it out himself. Like, whatever happened, it happened on one side. Then he made sure it stayed symmetrical." Gruesome either way, no matter how the initial cut had been made. "It's pointless, you can't reduce contact with Jack. He's all over the place, in his own ways. And he can smell fear, so..."

Any time he had tried avoiding Jack, it had backfired. These days, he didn't mind their friendship. It seemed to work well enough for them. "You could try asking Delite some time, when Jack's not around. They grew up together, so he'd know. He's annoying, but all right to talk to sometimes. When Jack is not around. Otherwise, it's like being on a minefield. Especially for you, with your dominant energy."

Seemed like a fair warning. "Don't let that little twink get to you. Even if he knows how to be scared well."