[ he shakes his head just a little bit at that, a half laugh making it out of him. it sounds far lighter than usually, like it's coming from somewhere that's had all the irons and shackles lifted off it completely. when he meets inej's eyes, it with a faint quirk of dark brows. ]

You'd be surprised. I was a mess before I met them.

[ the music is beginning to slow and soften now, the sort of thing that heralds the end of a dance. percy rides it out in any case. ]

It's a long story, so I'll leave it up to your imagination, Inej.