There's something to his tone of voice, heavy and serious, that makes it apparent that this... isn't the usual kind of small mistake. (On the edge of her vision, she can almost see it as a flicker in Adam's aura, too: a different, darker shade shooting through his usual pervading colours, tainting it.)

And for her part, Anathema's a very good listener. "Oh?" she asks; a gentle prompt, nudging him on.