For anyone who has met him here or in Bete Noire, Lucius would not be someone who strikes one as good with children. It's deceptive, however, at least to some degree: he's not fond of all of them, but now that he's a parent, he's at least sympathetic to challenges.

So he approaches, not too close, but close enough to speak in a civil tone of voice. "Excuse me," he says to Sol, "but is there anything I can do to help the confusion?"