Mm. That might be why. [ He rubs at the back of his neck. ] If it is part of me, it'd have all the issues I do with being both honest and with being... separate from myself.

[ Sigh. ] I was so worried about being a copy or an anomaly, in Norfinbury. That fear carries over, sometimes.

I'd almost expect you to be cruel to something that would be an anomaly version of myself, if only because I would be.