[ There's a small nod to that exaggerated cockiness. Perhaps Marcus would have approached any random person in this room. Perhaps not. Perhaps he wouldn't have asked it of Gela, for whom there is some stupid desire to shield from harm despite everything. Just as likely, Bastien is marked as capable enough to handle himself.

He taps ash from his cigarette as Bastien asks this next thing, and a minor twitch at the brow might communicate that it's unexpected. A pause, then, ]

Yes.

[ Withdraws his hand from the ashtray, still settled. ]

Here, at its worst, mages spent most of their waking hours behind locked doors for no clear reason. A prison by any measure, not just that of Circles. [ The corner of his mouth turns up, bringing his cigarette back up as he adds, ] I'm aware of the differences. He volunteered, for one.