Only fair for liars to call each other out. [He's put out by the whole thing, because...because it's black and white, with that grey insincerity in the middle. There's Ardyn, who is very much not horrifying, and there's...Izunia. Who is.]

I dunno, I just...different kinds of horrors get different reactions. Maybe I didn't flinch cuz you weren't so scary as you thought you were. [Which is also a lie, so he won't pretend that's actually the truth.] Maybe there's worse stuff out there. [Like the splash of blood on the glass. Audible, visceral.] Maybe I'm just able to suck it up and deal when shit's on the line. [Because what happens if he does flinch, if he's wrong, if he can't? If he can't. Does he lose Ardyn? Do people start dying? Unacceptable on both counts.]

Fuck knows how or why you put up with me.