[ Will’s doing him a damn favor, using small words for idiots and everything. Still, there’s so much to process. Alex stares all open-mouthed like he’s catching flies. It shouldn’t be that hard to comprehend. Right? ]

...Is it always like that? [ Quiet, kind of breathless. ] That... Like the...the things you talked about, on the... [ Gestures absently to his bracer. ] Was it always that...hateful?