Well that gets his attention -- a look of flat disbelief sharp and shock in bright, pale eyes, a traitorous glint of wetness that had already been building. Which probably does nothing for weakness, but strength is something that's been sifting fast through his hands through the last few years, so what's a little more?

Charles does stand, though. He's never in his life banked on trying to loom, authority stolen in other ways, but he can at least claim back some territory.

"No, don't feel sorry for me. Feel sorry for the man who thought things would get better, if he tried hard enough, and hoped hard enough, when they never would."