“How’d you get that scar on your face, anyway?” you ask casually, your tone light, as if the question is more of an afterthought than genuine curiosity. You're not particularly invested in the answer; it's just something to fill the silence.

But then you notice Graves’ reaction. His entire demeanor stiffens, his posture freezing as if you’ve struck a nerve. That catches your attention. A quiet alarm goes off in your mind, and you wonder if you’ve crossed a line, unknowingly venturing into territory that’s too personal. You mentally kick yourself for asking what could be an incredibly insensitive question.

The truth is, the real story behind the scar is far from the daring or dangerous tale you might have imagined. In fact, it’s pretty embarrassing—definitely not the kind of story he’d want to share.

“… Skydiving,” he says, lying through his teeth. The answer is so absurd, he hopes it’ll distract you enough to drop the subject altogether.