"Well." He takes his glasses off and turns them over in his hands. They're smudged, because glasses are always smudged, it feels like.

Cole probably already knows, and while he doesn't actually like that, part of him digs his heels because you don't just admit things to people, well..

"I made a mistake and someone horrible jumped in on it. That's mostly his fault, it's more his fault than mine, but I feel like people blame me. And I know why, and all, but..." One of his palps waves helplessly.