Tsuzuki winced, flinching from the statement even as Viktor swiftly changed the subject. There was just something about mentioning the past that creeped him out. Even another shinki's, even if it were only hypothetical.

Eager to follow the subject change, he nodded, instead. "Yeah, living like a dog is living the good life, I'd say. We've actually got one at the bar where I work. He's just a stray who stopped by for some scraps, but we took him in..."

He pulled his phone back out, and fiddled with it until he found the photo app to show off a few grainy, ill-lit but enthusiastic photos of a medium-haired, scruffy mutt with his tongue lolling happily out.