Warm makes sense to me. [ Matt quirks a smile as Sebastian speaks, his expression one of rueful commiseration. ] And life ... I mean, yeah. I don't know how to define it except as itself.

[ The maddening thing about occult knowledge is how frequently it defies description. Maybe that's its first line of defense against the sunlight of mainstream awareness--not secrecy, greed, or academic pride, but its simple refusal to let itself be put into words.

Sebastian's hand--shifts--and Matt's gaze is drawn to the change. He finds himself both surprised by the sight, here in the rational, atomized world of his own lonely perspective, and completely unsurprised. After all, how can you be startled by something that's been your own, however briefly?

"Fragile" and "delicate," meanwhile, make him feel like he should go find a fainting couch somewhere. But it's undeniable that human bodies are vulnerable. He's learned that lesson the hard way in recent days. He doesn't say that, though: downer topic. Instead, his lips twitch once more. ]

I've gotta believe you already knew what it takes to make a human bleed.