It's not that. It's not that I think the majority of the crew will treat me poorly, or even treat me differently on purpose. But they--
[Gregor stops, struggles briefly, his eyes sliding away from Ivan as he tries to say what he means.]
But when they look at me, they'll expect to see an Emperor, whether they treat me like one or not. I'll have to act like one all the time again, when it inevitably comes out. It-- [His face works for a moment, almost unreadably, but there's pain there before he swallows it up into that abyssal stillness, his shoulders straightening and his chin lifting slightly.]
At any rate, it was foolish to do otherwise at all. This was going to be discovered eventually, one way or another. It just took a little longer than anticipated, I suppose. Got too comfortable. You're right, it won't make that much of a difference, or it shouldn't. I just don't want to exactly advertise it either, all right?
no subject
[Gregor stops, struggles briefly, his eyes sliding away from Ivan as he tries to say what he means.]
But when they look at me, they'll expect to see an Emperor, whether they treat me like one or not. I'll have to act like one all the time again, when it inevitably comes out. It-- [His face works for a moment, almost unreadably, but there's pain there before he swallows it up into that abyssal stillness, his shoulders straightening and his chin lifting slightly.]
At any rate, it was foolish to do otherwise at all. This was going to be discovered eventually, one way or another. It just took a little longer than anticipated, I suppose. Got too comfortable. You're right, it won't make that much of a difference, or it shouldn't. I just don't want to exactly advertise it either, all right?