"A de Lioncourt original." Lestat smiles with utmost confidence, leaning back on his gloved hands and tilting his head in yet another predictable bout of preening. But this close, their thoughts so entwined, and with such recent examples to compare it to, Rorschach might be able to notice a subtle distinction: his compliment has touched a deeper chord than the ones before.

He usually prefers his praise to come easily. Putting in an effort to elicit it is at odds with his sense that those who cannot see his value are wilfully ignorant or beyond help. But there have been a handful of exceptions, over the years. People whose approval is most challenging to win, which transforms an irritation into a kind of game.

"But you must not discount yourself so lightly. There is a certain poetry to your bluntness - a composition stripped to the essential notes." It's easy, then, to return the favour, particularly when it's true.