[ not as bad, julius says. which can be a diplomatic statement, or simply the long and short of whatever opinion julius might spare for his teammates. it's hard to tell, but what's easier to glean is that he's changed for the better in the months since shiro'd last seen him; it's something in the ease of his answers now, or the way he gives some allowance for kindness in his otherwise blunt honesty. he's just a little more open than before.

which, compared to back then, is a wide margin of change. ]

No, I guess they wouldn't be. People are never as bad as the stories make them out to be. [ he's smiling. after all, julius is an example of one -- some harbinger of bad luck and death and every ill omen. but that's too heavy a mention to slip into the conversation. ] For example, rumor has it you have two left feet.

I could've sworn I saw you bust a couple of moves in the ballroom, back at the party.

[ he's kidding. ]