It was the second person in as many days to realize he wasn't entirely human. Hearing it always stung, just a tiny bit, being placed in this category of something other than human, never quite like them. There was something unsettling about it becoming common knowledge as well; in his own world, they were much more cautious about keeping their abilities secret. But the situation being what it was, he didn't see near as much need for it.

"I hope you can forgive my rudeness," he began, glancing up at Lingormr once he'd set his napkin aside. "One might call it a defense mechanism, I suppose. People tend to respond more favorably to children."