You misunderstand me, Ange. If I dictated myself by others' opinions of me, I'd be quite the beast, [ Claude says, and with that, he's finally able to smile again, sharp and shark-toothed. He's seldom heard good things about himself from those whose opinions truly matter, given honestly instead of meant to curry favour. He is unpopular among all other leaders of the Alliance, it seems, disgruntled that this young man has taken over his poor old Grandpa's legacy, and even more unpopular at home. ] I mean I'm... cognizant of how others see me, and how to use that, or to fight against it if I'm able.

[ No matter what he thinks of it, it's still the metric by which he navigates the world. He hasn't been able to shed it here, not even when it doesn't matter. It's something he's spent many a night pondering, especially after spending time with those who are frank about their own sordid pasts, whether they be in the midst of redemption, proud of their old secrets, or simply admitting to that which has shaped them. He can hear all of Ange's exasperation, of course, and he can see where it's coming from. Almost. But what good is his true self? When will he even use that guy? ]

I suppose my true self is simply that I'm furthering my own goals. I have my own ambitions. Everything else is in service to that.