[ Lucas doesn't say the word, but he still doesn't like the clear implication, even though there's a part of him that understands if he had to could mean self-defence. But he keeps that to himself, and soon it's out of the forefront of his mind by the time he describes the...experimentations of his own world.

His eyes widen, a sick look of disgust on his face. The hell...?

But he can't say anything about, not with the question that catches him off-guard more ways than one. He keeps silent, sight lowering briefly. ]

W-well... It's going to be hard to teach someone like that friendship. [ A smile, if small. ] But I want to believe anyone can open their heart to others one day, and we can get things right.

[ His face takes a sour note to it again, however. ] But stitching creatures together... that's disgusting. People who would do that - they're the real danger in the world, who just do with others what they want.