Alexander was silent as Sato spoke, hearing the different notes in her voice; care, planning, some regret. He sat down in the grass, crossing his long legs, and looked up at her with his not-quite-so-innocent eyes. "I didn't mean to stay with father so long, but he wants to know what it is that's doing this to me - you say Elpis has something to do with it?" That would make sense, the shell of a god that called itself Death would certainly make a foe of Hope of himself. He cocked his head to one side and fell silent again, his eyes tracing the lines of Sato's face, of her robe. "I have lived before." He said finally. "I have existed in cycles." His eyes flickered away and the sky darkened. Alexander looked to his left, and there was Death, stock still with empty sockets. Alexander stood and traced his fingertips down the shell's stubble-rough cheek. "He always kills me."