Caius might hear the story at some point, might find it useful, but for now it's best left alone: it doesn't help anyone for him to know how things used to be, when what he's curious about is now.

"I do," Benedict confirms, recovering with a fussy little toss of his head, his expression relaxing, "more than I believe in what they're doing back home, anyway. And then some."

He purses his lips, then adds, "it's an adjustment, coming south. The politics are different, stupid sometimes, but it's charming. In its way."