A persistent heart isn't such a rare affliction. Meddlesome, though? I'll give you that one.

[Even with the shots just grazing her, they pat the skin hard enough to hurt. Caren grits her teeth. It isn't a bad pain.]

You'll be pleased to know the rumors about the sting are true. [It's an olive branch, of sorts, in Caren's way: She isn't outwardly vocal about the pain she feels, especially having treated pain for so long as a simple consequence of her being alive.]