"You were beyond hope anyway, but it was an enjoyable waste of paint," she reminisced fondly even though it hadn't been that long ago, acknowledging she didn't mind how awful a student he was. And to be fair, Dorian had overestimated her teaching abilities as well, though she doubted anybody else would have been able to do better with his lack of talent. While they had made progress, it was doubtful Michel was ever going to improve enough to be considered good. Other artists that had happened to see Michel's half-finished paintings (and he never managed to complete a single one) had scoffed and told Mabelle she was only embarrassing herself by associating Michel as her student, but she never shared those opinions with Michel.
Closing her eyes against more water dripping into them, Mabelle shrugged. "Besides, it's an alluring look. I bet you have to do more than chop off fingers to keep the ladies away now," it was as much a compliment as it could be as well a reminder that he wasn't exactly innocent either, and she wasn't going to give into any attempts of guilting no matter how bitter he was. "Or men. You seem that type." She frowned thoughtfully, unbothered by the thought of him being attracted to men. "Not that I'm implying you hadn't plenty of other reasons." Of turning her down. And then she felt a bit awkward, not sure she wanted to let out that she was still thinking about that.
"That'll work," she agreed shortly, knowing it wasn't ideal but the best solution they had.