[If Yuan were privy to that thought process, he would be both irritated to be predicted so well, and pleased that they have not drifted quite so far as to be unknown to each other.]

She's the closest match, you know. With her, he could...

[Yuan shakes his head, still braiding, catching extra strands of hair up and pulling them in.]

Better dead than that.

Have you considered the chances of -- Martel's sickness? A key crest alone may not be enough to save her.

[It's a rare reaction, but with Colette's mana signature so close, he wouldn't be surprised.]

[Acerbically:]

You could fix the problem of time, you know.