..Oh. [The repetition is important, and her eyes widen as the words sink in. Then her face falls, still pained but entirely understanding, perhaps too much so, Lela drawn against her chest absently (and earning a tiny MEWF and a little bit of wiggling until the cat is comfortable again).]

It is. [distracting, that is] It might be easier to swallow if it was just dry facts. But it's not just the history. Nothing here ever seems to be quite that simple.

[that last remark earns a puzzled look, however. The dots aren't connecting -- and why should they?] What do you mean?