[ his expression falls immediately. oh, yeah. that old thing. ]

...Yeah, that's what I've been hearing. I guess I've been trying not to think about it too hard. I mean, I don't do anything sketchy with it, but...

[ shit, what was he expecting, speaking up like that? especially in a place like this? he frowns and puts it back away. ]

I'm... not sure what you mean by "their ilk," but if it's the Nine, then no. Far from it.

[ ...well. not that far from it, but he certainly doesn't have any delusions of importance about himself. ]