[ It’s easy to imagine Byerly swanning into a gathering that didn’t expect him, oddly dressed for the occasion, and making it everyone else’s problem instead of his. But it’s also not very difficult to imagine him awkward, now that Bastien’s witnessed it a time or two.

Imagining both now makes his smile a little muted, but fond. ]

Why do you care what they think?

[ Asked with genuine curiosity, no damn people’s opinions of you rebellion. ]

Because you need to be taken more seriously? And Athessa and Colin—I suppose they’ve both seen some of who you are at your heart, when you helped them.