[He has been through a lot. More than he's admitted to, really. It's not like he's afraid of people knowing the truth... it's just hard, getting pity and sympathy. He doesn't want to be a charity case. It's... hard, when he knows he's too messed up for people to treat him like a normal person.

At least Justine doesn't let her sympathy get in the way.]

You already help a lot.

[He finds heat rushing up into his cheeks at her comment, and he stammers a bit, indignant, before something seems to change, and he sighs softly.]

...Thanks for saying that. I don't... usually think of myself as handsome. Not with the scars. I mean, I guess the scales are covering them up...