He stared at her, his dark brown eyes blank and also full, full of misery and pain and exhaustion and a deep, deep anger. His teeth clenched, jaw set, and he narrowed his eyes at her. She came here and pulled him from Icarus' dreams, yanked away the only chance that he had to save his lover, and he was too tired to care what she thought of him and his presence here, too tired to play the game she always seemed involved in. He just wanted to curl up and sleep, sleep until it ended, and then....well, then what would he do? What life was there to return to? He recalled the mess that was the thirties, the decade spent in the hills and among the beasts of the land, years spent in that dark labyrinth, searching for sanity....for relief. Maybe it was time to disappear again.
But her words...her softer words...they didn't make sense to him, who's darkness was he in? He shook his head, frustrated, and sighed. Everything hurt. Everything hurt and he didn't have the patience or the capacity for games.
"If you need an explanation," he said, voice cracking, worn ragged with the screams, "Then I have nothing to offer you but the truth. And no fancy turns of phrase. I was shunted into the shadows unexpectedly. I attempted escape, and was unsuccessful. The finch that you sent once returned to me, it led me here, and the charm that Mischa gave me...before I met you, led me into the dreams of my friend, no doubt so that I could seek his aid."
He wanted to sink to the ground, could barely stand up, and everything hurt so badly...but he stood his ground, his eyes trained against hers.
"I will be honest; I meant no intrusion. I followed the bird and the token out of desperation. And that is all the explanation that I can offer you. If you wish to harm me...I wont be taking it without a fight. But I am in no state, and the monster runs free."