[ Konstantin finally breaks the gaze after so long holding it again, looking back down to his lap, slowly loosening the tightness of his jaw — a tension he can't quite release fully, no matter how many years of training he's had. These days, it's harder and harder to find that calm balance within himself. His heart's still beating a little too fast. ]

It does seem to... behave more positively towards people I feel positively about. I suppose we'll have to make sure never to argue.

[ He's trying to joke, say something light, but the implication is... sincerely terrifying. What if he and Vasiliy do have some sort of disagreement? What if this thing changes its tune? Tries to hurt Vasya? There's literally nothing he can do to stop it. To control it. He feels so helpless — and so uncomfortable in his own skin, in this moment. He's maintained a certain resilience about his situation, an almost disconcerting one, perhaps, but sometimes... sometimes it's there, the urge to claw into himself and tear this thing out. To shove his fingers down his throat and force it up and out of him. Thinking about it interacting with Vasiliy... how disgusting it is, how disgusting he is.... He shudders, knows there are sticky hard parts on his shirt where the alien's residue dried in the night. ]

I should go... wash off, probably.