Then... the only thing I can do is thank you, [ Claude says earnestly. He takes a moment to study himself. He feels strange, outside of his body in a way unusual for him, the frantic patter of panic having smoothed out to something new, something different now that his greatest secret has been spoken aloud and he finds himself no worse off for it. No, on the contrary -- he's better for it, an eventuality he'd never dared so much as imagine. He feels a little lighter now. Buoyed by the power of a belief that isn't put in some figment of himself he's pretending to be, but himself, the first time he's been wholly himself in years.

He wouldn't find the same luck with anyone else, he knows. But he'll cherish the gift that he's been given, here and now. He smiles at her. ]

I'd love to tell you about it. And this wouldn't be for many, many years, once the work is done, but someday? I'd love to show it to you too. It's a beautiful country. You'd love it. [ His eyes crinkle at the corners. ] Believe it or not, we're well known for our animal sanctuaries. I'll take you there one day.