None taken. He was somewhat less touchy than the bitter young lad who had gone to high school here. Besides, if she was noticing his arms, it meant she wasn't using her eyes to stare in horror at where his head was meant to be.

Most people didn't ever get as far down as his arms.

//You would be surprised,// he ventured, //if I told you just how much of my life has been spent trying to get a handle on who exactly 'Myself' is. Admittedly, I've lost sight of that a few times, though I don't have the flame to thank for that.//

Well. Not directly.

//The trick is realizing who it is you want to be, and then bloody well being that person. Not dwelling on who you were, or what anybody or anything else would make of you. Me, I decided to give 'confident' a try, for a change. Still takes work, of course.// He paused, and then his tone went a little lighter all over again. //The arms do help with that.//