Cassandra flinches when Laura touches her, having forgotten how tender the skin on her hand has started to feel- but after a moment she lets Laura take it, biting her lip for a moment. It hurts, but there’s something oddly validating, and necessary, about having someone touching her hand, knowing it’s diseased.

She makes a noise somewhat close to a cold laugh. “I just tried wrapping him up with part of my cape. That’s all it takes, I guess.”

She looks away for a moment before she continues. “Look, Laura, it’s not like I’m sure of what’s going to happen. But- the way you described what happened to Inanna, what they were like...I wasn’t going to let myself hope. Not when I’d be putting people at risk.”