Ugh. His face falls, along with his stomach, as he stares back at the board and mutters. Everyone he meets is trying to set him up. "This really is a conspiracy, isn't it."

Except... his sinking stomach comes to rest somewhere around the level it was when he was a child. When he'd been a different person. More flexible. Less likely to destroy the people around him without even trying—or just because he wants to.

He can feel Igor's eyes boring into his spine. Younger-him had been so ridiculously happy. "So, uh. What are you making of your situation, so far? Did you meet anyone else to start on your journey of connection with?" Blegh.