[ A priest. A saint. Someone capable of achieving anything. There are so many labels that Tatsumi wants to eschew, and "a god among men" is certainly one of them. The gap between himself and other people remains a raw memory: he would rather be cursed and trampled under the heels of his former followers, than be placed back on the pedestal they built for him. At that height, the air was impossible to breathe.

He doesn't mind arrogant and pitiful— he won't deny being either of those things. The words have the weight of legitimacy behind them, coming from HiMERU. His challenging expression makes him want to fall to his knees and drink down more of the venom spilling from his lips.

But this isn't about him. HiMERU is in character. He's diligently read through the script, and went over the scenes he found "challenging" three more times. While there aren't any lines exactly like what HiMERU had said, the spirit of his character is clearly there. Coupled with the helpful suggestion to take things slower, he takes the pressure off HiMERU's hands. It's a false offering of benevolence, a chance to push back, however futile it would be. ]

A "God among men?" You of all people should know a vampire is the furthest thing from God, even more so than humans.

[ A smile that doesn't reach his eyes plays across his lips as he whispers in a low voice. ]

Wouldn't it be better to consider me a cohort of the Devil Himself?