Of course it does. [Deckerd snorts it affectionately, and forces his hands to gentle on Gunmax and smooth in what he hoped were soothing patterns] You're you. You're one of mine, were long before either of us said anything. We all came pre-installed with what I believe Todo once called 'control issues.' There was never any chance that you wouldn't think so. But...

[Another soft, shuddering vent he does his best not to allow to linger]

I can only hope that hearing it can be added to a pile of similar things, and that one day it will tilt the invisible scales in your favor. Besides... if it was a failure...

[His fingers tightened again at his own hypocrisy in what he was about to say, and he smoothed them back into those patterns]

Would that be so bad? People fail, every day. Why does it have to mean anything?