"That would do it for a person like that," Lord El-Melloi II agreed softly. He didn't like it, but from all he had heard about Marie, it seemed perfectly in character.

But there was little time to dwell on what else might have made Marie tick, because the tidal wave of insecurity (what if I'm not worthy?) had dragged him down into the undertoe. He barely registered that Roman had even reached out to reassure him, quite literally.

"There is a limit on such actions," he said softly. "One can't do the same thing forever and expect a different result."

Not without attendant heartbreak, at the very least.