"Oh, I don't know," This time, there's warning; Isaac turns the page onto blank parchment. "My heart's just not in it tonight."

The book snaps shut with soggy theatricality. Isaac sets it aside, before scrubbing a hand over his chin, and sinking deeper. He doesn't regard Ellis head-on — it just feels like cheating, after all that work before. His own chest bares no sign of scar or ink.

"You can get tired of anything, I suppose."