His usual respite from having to really discuss how all right he is or isn't - breezily chatting about the likelihood of his execution - is unthinkable before her. Completely unthinkable. Hell, any sort of ironic distance is unthinkable right now. Though the thought of being genuine and sincere - dear God, it's nearly physically painful. Spare him and save him. But what else can he be, when he's speaking with Sonia?

I think I am completely at a loss as to how to act around her now. How strange. When was the last time he was at a loss around anyone at all? It's been a damned long time, that's for sure - he takes quite a lot of pride in never being flummoxed. But here, with her...

"I apologize for not succeeding," he says, his eyes - when he lifts them to hers - dark with guilt and sorrow. "Not trying was altogether out of the question, but not succeeding is hardly better."