"I've heard a bit of that, too."

Not enough to truly parse it. Only enough to make a few private jokes. The thing is, he's not going to accept the shape of this universe as unknowable and himself as someone's storybook villain. It just isn't much of an option.

(It's been a long time since he thought he was anyone's storybook hero.)

"You say it as though you knew her." He tips his head in thought, tone dropped a little out of respect for that silence. "Did you?"