[Michael nods. The androgyny doesn't bother him, but it's definitely not what he's used to. Still, he'll try not to make a deal out of it. And wow, that sure is a complicated conversation starter.]

Well, I'm not interested in helping unless you're actually going with the revenge option. Or, you know. The murder-revenge. I'm not interested in torture.

[He has no idea Seel's actually considered that, though he can see the appeal of it, maybe, if someone murdered him. But that's not what Michael's here for.

Now comes the hard part. He's decided that if this is going to work, he's got to let go of at least some of his secrets. Some.]

This isn't going to make sense to you, and I don't expect it to, but it's kind of like... when people make sacrifices, to appease gods, or something. It's a little like that.

[There are actual gods running around here, maybe Seel will understand.]